Chev Walker hit the nail on the head.

“There’s no way we can do any worse really than we have done, as bad as it sounds,” said the Bulls centre.

“But the squad in general believe we can do better in 2012.

“We just need to take it up another level, trust each other and work hard for each other.”

As honest an appraisal as you will hear from anyone at Odsal.

After another season of failing to make the play-offs, it is three years and counting.

Thus the 2012 campaign is shaping up as a pivotal season for Mick Potter’s men.

The Bulls need to re-establish themselves in the right half of the table and a top eight-finish is the minimum requirement.

Nothing less will do.

Despite the hurt caused by the club’s fall from grace, there is still desire and belief in spades off the pitch. Over 10,000 supporters will back the Bulls at Odsal next season.

On it, there is enough quality among the existing pool of talent and four new recruits to suggest Potter can engineer an upturn in fortunes.

Certainly Walker is due a change of luck.

The 28-year-old former Leeds and Hull KR centre joined Bradford a year ago on a 12-month contract but made little more than ten appearances in another injury-ravaged season.

Walker, who missed the whole of the 2010 campaign with a badly-broken leg, tore a pectoral muscle in his third match for the Bulls at Crusaders in February and then broke a bone in his foot in the Challenge Cup tie against Halifax in May.

Yet his quality has never been in doubt.

Last month he signed a new one-year deal and he still harbours hopes of forcing his way back into the international set-up.

Such mental fortitude is to be admired and it is clear that ambition still courses through his veins.

“If you haven’t got that inner drive in rugby league you’re goosed really,” said Walker, who turns 29 on Monday.

“You’re in the wrong sport. It would take a doctor to tell me that I’m not fit to play and I would never retire if my body is able.

“It would be a doctor that would retire me.

“I’m grateful for the opportunity that Bradford gave me in the first place.

“Obviously I got injured again and you think it’s going to slip away... but they have kept faith in me.

“It’s been hard with it being my first year and being injured and missing so much rugby.

“Yet it’s still a pleasure to come into work.

“This is a great club and a family-orientated club.

“Personally, I always aim high every season. I’ll be 29 next season but I still think that if I get a run together then I’ve got the potential to be playing international rugby league again.

“I believe that and I’ll always be striving for that.” Bradford have so far secured the signatures of Luke Gale, Jarrod Sammut, Keith Lulia and Adrian Purtell ahead of the 2012 campaign.

But more new recruits are expected following the recent departure of skipper Andy Lynch to Hull FC and the shock sacking of wing Gareth Raynor.

Walker is confident that the Bulls will be a tougher proposition next season and points to a number of talented youngsters such as John Bateman, Adam O’Brien and Tom Burgess as a major cause for optimism.

He added: “It’s important that we find someone to replace Lynchy.

“It will be a hard job for whoever comes in but it does give an opportunity for some of the younger lads to step up and be the future of the club and take it forward.

“I’m going away on holiday with the missus during the off-season but I’ve worked hard to get fit again so I’ll make sure I come back in good condition.

“I’m not going to let that slip. I’ll have a little lay around on the beach and get back into training as soon as I return. We’ve got a big season coming up.”