Star hopes baby will unite family

Wolves legend Steve Bull is hoping the birth of his new daughter will bring him closer to his two sons.

The former England international and his wife Kirsty opened the doors of their £500,000-plus converted farmhouse home in Codsall to give the first glimpse of Gracie Jo, their new pride and joy.

And all Steve needs now to complete his contentment is renewed contact with his boys, 15 and 11, whom he has not seen for eight years.

That remains the bitter legacy of the end of his second marriage to Julie, the boys' mother, and explains why, when he first held little Gracie Jo in his arms last week, he told Kirsty: "I feel like I have been given another chance to be a dad."

Two years ago Steve Bull spoke publicly for the first time about his isolation from his two boys, who still live a short distance away, following the breakdown of his relationship with Julie.

Frustrating hours in the courtroom failed to provide a solution and now, aside from the occasional text message or phone call, he remains cut off from their lives.

But the man who used to strike fear into defences across the land openly concedes he has a soft side and the arrival of his first daughter has brought out all his yearning to once more be a father to his sons.

"They have got a baby sister now - and she is beautiful," he said.

"I hope the boys will one day want to know about how she is doing just as she will want to know about her brothers.

"Their photographs are all over the house and as she grows, Gracie Jo is going to want to know who they are. But I've had absolutely no contact with them now for eight years. I rang Julie to ask her to tell the boys they now have a baby sister and I will send them a letter with a picture of her.

"I'm hoping they will want to come and see her. Sooner or later I am sure they will. I've been pushed out of their lives, but I would like them to be part of this one - and perhaps little Gracie Jo will be the bond which brings us all together again.

"I am not complaining. I am a lucky man. I had a great career and I am enjoying my work now and the charity visits I do take me to the wards for terminally-ill children.

"My boys will come back to me one day but those children won't be able to. I've got two healthy sons and now a beautiful healthy baby girl.

"I love kids and I think I am good dad. And that's what it's all about in the end, isn't it?"