WHEN Chev Walker looks backs on his career, he is unlikely to remember his time as a Bradford player too fondly.

Since joining the Bulls ahead of the 2011 campaign and retiring at the end of last year, the club failed to make the play-offs, had two spells in administration and were relegated from Super League.

Now, though, the 33-year-old former Leeds Rhinos star is part of the coaching team tasked with returning Bradford to the top flight.

After hanging up his boots at the end of last term, Walker joined Matt Diskin in becoming Jimmy Lowes’ assistant following the departure of Karl Harrison.

Despite all the travails of recent times, Walker holds the club close to his heart.

He said: “I’m enjoying learning the new role because it’s like starting all over again for me.

“I’m able to pass on my all experiences to the young kids but it’s also about learning how to coach properly.

“I’m picking up bits and bobs and finding my own style of coaching.

“The day to day bits, like the video, are really interesting, so I don’t feel overwhelmed or daunted by it.

“As a young coach who is learning, Bradford is a good environment to be in and we've got a good team here.

“I had Graham Murray, Daryl Powell and Tony Smith at Leeds, so I’ve been lucky throughout my career to have played under such good coaches, all very different in their methods.

“I was always a listener as a player, I didn’t talk much, and would listen to what my coaches said and try and deliver what they wanted from me.

“I’ve stored a lot of things in my mind, especially the things that have benefited me, such as man-management.

“As a coach, you’re not wanting to be big mates with the players – you just want to do your best for them.

“It’s about working out what makes people tick and improving them, so if I’m doing that then I’m doing my job.

“I failed as a player to be able to be part of the team to get Bradford back up to where they once were.

“The next best thing for me is to be part of the coaching team that builds something.”

The youth development system at Leeds that spawned a golden generation of players over a decade ago included Walker, Diskin and Bulls new-boy Richie Mathers.

Walker added: “I think Disko and I will be good for the jobs we have here.

“Just because we haven’t got much coaching experience, people will probably say ‘what can they bring?’

“But we’ve been around some good environments and those good habits are in me, so it’s about passing them onto players which makes them better for Jimmy’s sessions.

“That journey Disko and I took through the academy system at Leeds gave us fantastic habits.

“Super League and the Championship is littered with players who have come from there.

“The proof is in the pudding but I think we’ve got a good nucleus of players who we are able to build on and around.

“Disko has done a cracking job with the Under-19s that are coming through. The future is bright.”

Harrison left the Bulls after one year feeling he had not been properly utilised by Lowes.

But Walker revealed: “Jimmy is allowing Disko and I to have a bit of input, which is good, and I’m enjoying that.

“I have kind of fallen into doing the backs, working on systems, and having played on the wing and in the centre I can see things on the pitch.

“The rewarding thing is that you’re able to give something to someone that they don’t really see.

“We seem to have a good blend and we’ve worked hard in pre-season on breaking some habits and getting little disciplines right which help you out on the field.

“I’m doing tonnes more hours, but it doesn’t feel like work.

“Probably the only downside to it is that I’m not getting to see my kids grow up as much as I would like to.

“At the end of the day, I’ve been lucky to have a career where you can go home and chill out after training, so I’m not complaining about the hours. If it takes us all day to get it right then so be it.”

Walker, who has expertise in nutrition, has ambitions to become a head coach one day.

“I wouldn’t have taken the job just to be an assistant,” he admitted.

“I had never really set out to be a coach but I fell into the role.

“But I never set out to be a professional rugby player – I just enjoyed doing it.

“I got bit by the bug and you work hard at it and go as far as you can. I’m no different as a coach.”