Bullard explains switch decision

Jimmy Bullard claims he does not know if he fully repaid Fulham for standing by him through his injury nightmare.

The 30-year-old midfielder left Craven Cottage yesterday to join Hull in a £5m deal.

Bullard and Fulham could not come to an agreement over a new contract and the former Wigan player accepted the offer of a four-and-a-half-year deal at the KC Stadium.

The move comes just a year after Bullard returned to action from a 15-month lay-off with a serious knee injury.

Fulham boss Roy Hodgson yesterday suggested the club could not match the terms Hull were prepared to offer, particularly over the length of contract.

Bullard said: “I was in a difficult position with Fulham. I had 18 months left on my contract. I spoke to the club more than once and the club did tell me they were not willing to offer any sort of contract and I could leave in January.

“I left my options open, came to speak to Hull and it happened.

“I don‘t know about repaying. I signed for Fulham and that was my job, to play football and do the best I can.

“Repay? No, but I always gave 100% and I hope that was enough.

“I had a lot of good friends there and I wish them all the best.

“The fans, especially through my injury – I had 15 months out and a hard time - were brilliant towards me.

“I loved my time there but I understand football and it came to that point.”

Hull were due to parade their record signing to supporters prior to this afternoon‘s FA Cup tie against Millwall.

Bullard is then likely to make his debut against another of his former clubs, West Ham, at Upton Park on Wednesday.

He could provide the Tigers with just the lift they need after an alarming slump in form which has yielded one win in their last 13 Premier League games.

“I‘m so happy to be here,” Bullard added. “After meeting Phil Brown, the gaffer, I knew after 10 minutes I wanted to sign here.

“The ambitions of the club and the ambitions of the chairman – it was the right place to be and I‘m just happy to be here.”

The fee for Bullard smashes the club‘s previous record outlay of £2.5m, spent twice for Anthony Gardner and Kamil Zayatte.

Chairman Paul Duffen dismissed suggestions they could be overstretching themselves.

He said: “The fact we have now got, in my opinion, one of the best three midfielders in country on board is appropriate and completely consistent with our ambitions.

“I have said consistently we are not going to jeopardise the financial future of Hull City Football Club at any level and we are not in this move.”

Bullard is the fourth new arrival at Hull in the January transfer window after Kevin Kilbane and Manucho were signed last week.

Tigers boss Brown said: “It is a fabulous day for me as a Premier League manager to sign a quality player such as Jimmy Bullard.”