New dad Chev Walker had double cause for celebration last night after it was revealed he has agreed a new one-year deal.

The Bulls star, who performed admirably in the centres and the pack during 2012, became a father for the first time on Saturday night when fiancée Lauren gave birth to a son, Lincoln Walker.

And it was revealed at last night’s fans’ forum that the 29-year-old had been awarded a deal for 2013, extending his stay at Odsal into a third season.

Walker said: “Becoming a dad, another year’s contract gives me a bit of security but I wanted to stay at Bradford regardless.

“I’ve said before that being happy at home makes me happy at work, and I’m really happy on both fronts with Lauren giving birth to Lincoln and then agreeing a new deal at Bradford.

“There was interest from elsewhere but signing for the Bulls was definitely my first choice. I absolutely love it here and have been made to feel really welcome from day one.

“I can see the club going places and I feel part of things here.

“While I would have liked a bit more security than a one-year deal, that is always going to be difficult with the club’s one-year probationary licence.

“Hopefully they can now start signing up the other out-of contract lads because there is already a really strong core of players here to build around.”

After a traumatic campaign which saw the Bulls’ continued existence come under threat, Walker is confident they can approach 2013 with fresh optimism with Francis Cummins at the helm.

He added: “I played with Franny and was coached by him at Leeds before spending the past two years with him at Bradford.

“He has always been a coach and I’ve no doubt he ‘s ready for the challenge and can take the club forward.”

New owners Omar Khan and Gerry Sutcliffe won fans over in the Coral Stand last night, where they spoke of their hopes of buying back the lease on Odsal and vowed to spend up to the salary cap.

They also spoke of the need for support from local businesses to attract sponsorship and Cummins said he was hopeful that John Bateman would sign a new deal.