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Deal for Law falls through

10:15pm Monday 3rd March 2008

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By Ian Whiting »

Nicky Law will NOT now be Bradford Park Avenue's next manager after a day of sensational claims and counter-claims left them having to apologise to his current club.

The debacle will have damaged Avenue's relationship with Alfreton Town and left them red faced, while also leaving Law looking naive.

Avenue chief executive Bob Blackburn handled the negotiations with the former Bradford City boss and was assured by him that he was not under contract as manager of Blue Square North outfit Alfreton.

In good faith, Avenue made the announcement that Law would be on board by today, only to later discover that would not transpire.

The Derbyshire club issued a statement on their website insisting Law was just months into a three-year contract and would not be allowed to leave.

Blackburn had handed him UniBond jackets, Avenue club tracksuits and coats with Law's and proposed assistant Russell O'Neil's initials on when the pair came to watch Avenue at Harrogate Railway Athletic on Saturday.

The chief executive was so confident on Thursday evening, after receiving word from Law that the deal was done, that he had the kit prepared on Friday knowing Law was attending the match to cast his eye over his new squad.

Blackburn was unable to contact Law on Sunday or today but was informed by text message from Law that he was under contract at Alfreton and would be unable to work for another club without substantial compensation.

Avenue director Kevin Hainsworth, who - along with Blackburn and club chairman John Dean - was involved at every step, said: "It has been a bad day but we are happy that from our side we did everything above board.

"Nicky applied for the job when he heard of the vacancy. He specifically told us that he was not under contract but when Alfreton put out their statement Nicky admitted he had signed a piece of paper but didn't realise what it was.

"It came as a shock to us and we contacted Alfreton to express our regrets - but we will brush ourselves down and it has just made us more determined to find the right man.

"We didn't want to discuss it at length today, we just decided to reconvene at 9.30 tomorrow morning and take it from there.

"The search commences from here. We obviously have something to go on because there were others who applied along with Nicky and unfortunately they just missed out because of his vast experience.

"So there are already some very good candidates on our shortlist and we hope to move things along quickly and have our new manager in place by Saturday for the home game against Lancaster City."

Avenue should have been at home to Ossett Albion in the semi-finals of the West Riding County Cup tonight but the tie was postponed.

Hainsworth explained: "The pitch was suffering from a combination of things - snow, rain and standing water.

"We felt there was a possibility of removing the snow but the forecast was bad so the referee called it off after an inspection.

"It could be rearranged for tomorrow or next Monday but that is something else that will be discussed this morning."

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Your Say YourBradford

campion bantam, bradford says...
12:17pm Wed 5 Mar 08

The ghost of Herbert Metcalfe rides again. Bramley Park Avenue what a laughing stock!!
Report this post »

campion bantam, bradford says...
12:17pm Wed 5 Mar 08

The ghost of Herbert Metcalfe rides again. Bramley Park Avenue what a laughing stock!!
Report this post »

campion bantam, bradford says...
12:17pm Wed 5 Mar 08

The ghost of Herbert Metcalfe rides again. Bramley Park Avenue what a laughing stock!!
Report this post »

campion bantam, bradford says...
12:17pm Wed 5 Mar 08

The ghost of Herbert Metcalfe rides again. Bramley Park Avenue what a laughing stock!!
Report this post »

D.J.L., Torrevieja,Spain. says...
6:06pm Tue 4 Mar 08

i forgot to add,yes i have made loads of mistakes,but i put my hand up.i ran a sunday football team for 22 years before i settled in spain,and i always took responibility if the side i picked lost,so dont give it that :IT IS NON LEAGUE FOOTBALL:you want to run a grass roots team to see how much work goes into amateur footy.go watch skipton bulldogs if they are still playing and ask their secretary if he has ever signed a player on without asking the player if he is allready registered with another club/TEAM.
Report this post »

D.J.L., Torrevieja,Spain. says...
6:06pm Tue 4 Mar 08

i forgot to add,yes i have made loads of mistakes,but i put my hand up.i ran a sunday football team for 22 years before i settled in spain,and i always took responibility if the side i picked lost,so dont give it that :IT IS NON LEAGUE FOOTBALL:you want to run a grass roots team to see how much work goes into amateur footy.go watch skipton bulldogs if they are still playing and ask their secretary if he has ever signed a player on without asking the player if he is allready registered with another club/TEAM.
Report this post »

D.J.L., Torrevieja,Spain. says...
6:06pm Tue 4 Mar 08

i forgot to add,yes i have made loads of mistakes,but i put my hand up.i ran a sunday football team for 22 years before i settled in spain,and i always took responibility if the side i picked lost,so dont give it that :IT IS NON LEAGUE FOOTBALL:you want to run a grass roots team to see how much work goes into amateur footy.go watch skipton bulldogs if they are still playing and ask their secretary if he has ever signed a player on without asking the player if he is allready registered with another club/TEAM.
Report this post »

D.J.L., Torrevieja,Spain. says...
6:06pm Tue 4 Mar 08

i forgot to add,yes i have made loads of mistakes,but i put my hand up.i ran a sunday football team for 22 years before i settled in spain,and i always took responibility if the side i picked lost,so dont give it that :IT IS NON LEAGUE FOOTBALL:you want to run a grass roots team to see how much work goes into amateur footy.go watch skipton bulldogs if they are still playing and ask their secretary if he has ever signed a player on without asking the player if he is allready registered with another club/TEAM.
Report this post »

D.J.L., Torrevieja,Spain. says...
5:56pm Tue 4 Mar 08

hey peter in skipton,are you related to nicky laws,so you think people just sign bits of paper without looking at them,you would be a salesmans dream,and as for my life in spain, that is my choice and i bet a few more people would like to get away from people like you,who are so short sighted, i bet you have eyesight like mr magoo,facts dont lie,laws is trying to take people for fools,and it has obviously worked cos you are one.
Report this post »

D.J.L., Torrevieja,Spain. says...
5:56pm Tue 4 Mar 08

hey peter in skipton,are you related to nicky laws,so you think people just sign bits of paper without looking at them,you would be a salesmans dream,and as for my life in spain, that is my choice and i bet a few more people would like to get away from people like you,who are so short sighted, i bet you have eyesight like mr magoo,facts dont lie,laws is trying to take people for fools,and it has obviously worked cos you are one.
Report this post »

D.J.L., Torrevieja,Spain. says...
5:56pm Tue 4 Mar 08

hey peter in skipton,are you related to nicky laws,so you think people just sign bits of paper without looking at them,you would be a salesmans dream,and as for my life in spain, that is my choice and i bet a few more people would like to get away from people like you,who are so short sighted, i bet you have eyesight like mr magoo,facts dont lie,laws is trying to take people for fools,and it has obviously worked cos you are one.
Report this post »

D.J.L., Torrevieja,Spain. says...
5:56pm Tue 4 Mar 08

hey peter in skipton,are you related to nicky laws,so you think people just sign bits of paper without looking at them,you would be a salesmans dream,and as for my life in spain, that is my choice and i bet a few more people would like to get away from people like you,who are so short sighted, i bet you have eyesight like mr magoo,facts dont lie,laws is trying to take people for fools,and it has obviously worked cos you are one.
Report this post »

Simba, Liversedge says...
1:17pm Tue 4 Mar 08

For a club that is supposed to be moving forward they have a funny way of conducting their business. Is Mr Blackburn another GR and all for the limelight?
Report this post »

Simba, Liversedge says...
1:17pm Tue 4 Mar 08

For a club that is supposed to be moving forward they have a funny way of conducting their business. Is Mr Blackburn another GR and all for the limelight?
Report this post »

Simba, Liversedge says...
1:17pm Tue 4 Mar 08

For a club that is supposed to be moving forward they have a funny way of conducting their business. Is Mr Blackburn another GR and all for the limelight?
Report this post »

Simba, Liversedge says...
1:17pm Tue 4 Mar 08

For a club that is supposed to be moving forward they have a funny way of conducting their business. Is Mr Blackburn another GR and all for the limelight?
Report this post »

richard, cleckheaton says...
1:17pm Tue 4 Mar 08

Amateurs,and Avenue want to get back in the league, what a joke. How can they expect anyone to take them seriously, as for Mr Law maybe it was the Unibond jackets with his initials on that swung it, then he finds a bit of paper with his name on it, drat and double drat !!!!!
Report this post »

richard, cleckheaton says...
1:17pm Tue 4 Mar 08

Amateurs,and Avenue want to get back in the league, what a joke. How can they expect anyone to take them seriously, as for Mr Law maybe it was the Unibond jackets with his initials on that swung it, then he finds a bit of paper with his name on it, drat and double drat !!!!!
Report this post »

richard, cleckheaton says...
1:17pm Tue 4 Mar 08

Amateurs,and Avenue want to get back in the league, what a joke. How can they expect anyone to take them seriously, as for Mr Law maybe it was the Unibond jackets with his initials on that swung it, then he finds a bit of paper with his name on it, drat and double drat !!!!!
Report this post »

richard, cleckheaton says...
1:17pm Tue 4 Mar 08

Amateurs,and Avenue want to get back in the league, what a joke. How can they expect anyone to take them seriously, as for Mr Law maybe it was the Unibond jackets with his initials on that swung it, then he finds a bit of paper with his name on it, drat and double drat !!!!!
Report this post »

peter, skipton says...
1:03pm Tue 4 Mar 08

D.J.L. wrote:
what kind of a fool signs any piece of paper,without checking out what it means,the man must think fans are as foolish as he is,if this is how he conducts his self,avenue have had a lucky escape,and if i was the chairman of alfreton town,i would like an explanation,the only person to blame for this fiasco is nickylaws.
Probably someone like you. Everybody makes mistakes -except you? This is Non-League football after all, so these things happen. Life goes on, so you just relax down there in Spain.
Report this post »

peter, skipton says...
1:03pm Tue 4 Mar 08

D.J.L. wrote:
what kind of a fool signs any piece of paper,without checking out what it means,the man must think fans are as foolish as he is,if this is how he conducts his self,avenue have had a lucky escape,and if i was the chairman of alfreton town,i would like an explanation,the only person to blame for this fiasco is nickylaws.
Probably someone like you. Everybody makes mistakes -except you? This is Non-League football after all, so these things happen. Life goes on, so you just relax down there in Spain.
Report this post »

peter, skipton says...
1:03pm Tue 4 Mar 08

D.J.L. wrote:
what kind of a fool signs any piece of paper,without checking out what it means,the man must think fans are as foolish as he is,if this is how he conducts his self,avenue have had a lucky escape,and if i was the chairman of alfreton town,i would like an explanation,the only person to blame for this fiasco is nickylaws.
Probably someone like you. Everybody makes mistakes -except you? This is Non-League football after all, so these things happen. Life goes on, so you just relax down there in Spain.
Report this post »

peter, skipton says...
1:03pm Tue 4 Mar 08

D.J.L. wrote:
what kind of a fool signs any piece of paper,without checking out what it means,the man must think fans are as foolish as he is,if this is how he conducts his self,avenue have had a lucky escape,and if i was the chairman of alfreton town,i would like an explanation,the only person to blame for this fiasco is nickylaws.
Probably someone like you. Everybody makes mistakes -except you? This is Non-League football after all, so these things happen. Life goes on, so you just relax down there in Spain.
Report this post »

Big Mal, Bradford says...
12:13pm Tue 4 Mar 08

....a PR disaster.
Report this post »

Big Mal, Bradford says...
12:13pm Tue 4 Mar 08

....a PR disaster.
Report this post »

Big Mal, Bradford says...
12:13pm Tue 4 Mar 08

....a PR disaster.
Report this post »

Big Mal, Bradford says...
12:13pm Tue 4 Mar 08

....a PR disaster.
Report this post »

Boring Stan, Bradford 1974 says...
11:51am Tue 4 Mar 08

I feel sorry for him imagine having to manage our club when he as managed our far bigger neighbours
Report this post »

Boring Stan, Bradford 1974 says...
11:51am Tue 4 Mar 08

I feel sorry for him imagine having to manage our club when he as managed our far bigger neighbours
Report this post »

Boring Stan, Bradford 1974 says...
11:51am Tue 4 Mar 08

I feel sorry for him imagine having to manage our club when he as managed our far bigger neighbours
Report this post »

Boring Stan, Bradford 1974 says...
11:51am Tue 4 Mar 08

I feel sorry for him imagine having to manage our club when he as managed our far bigger neighbours
Report this post »

D.J.L., Torrevieja,Spain. says...
11:14am Tue 4 Mar 08

what kind of a fool signs any piece of paper,without checking out what it means,the man must think fans are as foolish as he is,if this is how he conducts his self,avenue have had a lucky escape,and if i was the chairman of alfreton town,i would like an explanation,the only person to blame for this fiasco is nickylaws.
Report this post »

D.J.L., Torrevieja,Spain. says...
11:14am Tue 4 Mar 08

what kind of a fool signs any piece of paper,without checking out what it means,the man must think fans are as foolish as he is,if this is how he conducts his self,avenue have had a lucky escape,and if i was the chairman of alfreton town,i would like an explanation,the only person to blame for this fiasco is nickylaws.
Report this post »

D.J.L., Torrevieja,Spain. says...
11:14am Tue 4 Mar 08

what kind of a fool signs any piece of paper,without checking out what it means,the man must think fans are as foolish as he is,if this is how he conducts his self,avenue have had a lucky escape,and if i was the chairman of alfreton town,i would like an explanation,the only person to blame for this fiasco is nickylaws.
Report this post »

D.J.L., Torrevieja,Spain. says...
11:14am Tue 4 Mar 08

what kind of a fool signs any piece of paper,without checking out what it means,the man must think fans are as foolish as he is,if this is how he conducts his self,avenue have had a lucky escape,and if i was the chairman of alfreton town,i would like an explanation,the only person to blame for this fiasco is nickylaws.
Report this post »

peter, skipton says...
10:29am Tue 4 Mar 08

HIPPIEDAVE wrote:
Glad he didn't get the job, never rated him.
Daft comment really. Should have posted this appointment when he supposedly got the job. The fact is that Nicky Law had two promotions with Buxton, who are my friend, a division higher than BPA.
Report this post »

peter, skipton says...
10:29am Tue 4 Mar 08

HIPPIEDAVE wrote:
Glad he didn't get the job, never rated him.
Daft comment really. Should have posted this appointment when he supposedly got the job. The fact is that Nicky Law had two promotions with Buxton, who are my friend, a division higher than BPA.
Report this post »

peter, skipton says...
10:29am Tue 4 Mar 08

HIPPIEDAVE wrote:
Glad he didn't get the job, never rated him.
Daft comment really. Should have posted this appointment when he supposedly got the job. The fact is that Nicky Law had two promotions with Buxton, who are my friend, a division higher than BPA.
Report this post »

peter, skipton says...
10:29am Tue 4 Mar 08

HIPPIEDAVE wrote:
Glad he didn't get the job, never rated him.
Daft comment really. Should have posted this appointment when he supposedly got the job. The fact is that Nicky Law had two promotions with Buxton, who are my friend, a division higher than BPA.
Report this post »

HIPPIEDAVE, Penn,Staffs says...
9:37am Tue 4 Mar 08

Glad he didn't get the job, never rated him.
Report this post »

HIPPIEDAVE, Penn,Staffs says...
9:37am Tue 4 Mar 08

Glad he didn't get the job, never rated him.
Report this post »

HIPPIEDAVE, Penn,Staffs says...
9:37am Tue 4 Mar 08

Glad he didn't get the job, never rated him.
Report this post »

HIPPIEDAVE, Penn,Staffs says...
9:37am Tue 4 Mar 08

Glad he didn't get the job, never rated him.
Report this post »

Bantam 58, keighley says...
8:14am Tue 4 Mar 08

All i can say on the matter is.......Bradford Park Avenue.
Report this post »

Bantam 58, keighley says...
8:14am Tue 4 Mar 08

All i can say on the matter is.......Bradford Park Avenue.
Report this post »

Bantam 58, keighley says...
8:14am Tue 4 Mar 08

All i can say on the matter is.......Bradford Park Avenue.
Report this post »

Bantam 58, keighley says...
8:14am Tue 4 Mar 08

All i can say on the matter is.......Bradford Park Avenue.
Report this post »

acidal, Bwadford says...
5:07am Tue 4 Mar 08

Law probably thought the Avenue chairman would cough up some compo after the move.

We all believe you didn't know what the piece of paper was Nicky.

LOL
Report this post »

acidal, Bwadford says...
5:07am Tue 4 Mar 08

Law probably thought the Avenue chairman would cough up some compo after the move.

We all believe you didn't know what the piece of paper was Nicky.

LOL
Report this post »

acidal, Bwadford says...
5:07am Tue 4 Mar 08

Law probably thought the Avenue chairman would cough up some compo after the move.

We all believe you didn't know what the piece of paper was Nicky.

LOL
Report this post »

acidal, Bwadford says...
5:07am Tue 4 Mar 08

Law probably thought the Avenue chairman would cough up some compo after the move.

We all believe you didn't know what the piece of paper was Nicky.

LOL
Report this post »

emj, says...
10:50pm Mon 3 Mar 08

What a showing up for the stans.
Did it never occur to them to contact the managers club first?
That would have been the decent thing to do.
As for Law, just signing something but didnt know what. The mind boggles at his sheer stupidity.
Perhaps the stans are better of without someone so daft.
Report this post »

emj, says...
10:50pm Mon 3 Mar 08

What a showing up for the stans.
Did it never occur to them to contact the managers club first?
That would have been the decent thing to do.
As for Law, just signing something but didnt know what. The mind boggles at his sheer stupidity.
Perhaps the stans are better of without someone so daft.
Report this post »

emj, says...
10:50pm Mon 3 Mar 08

What a showing up for the stans.
Did it never occur to them to contact the managers club first?
That would have been the decent thing to do.
As for Law, just signing something but didnt know what. The mind boggles at his sheer stupidity.
Perhaps the stans are better of without someone so daft.
Report this post »

emj, says...
10:50pm Mon 3 Mar 08

What a showing up for the stans.
Did it never occur to them to contact the managers club first?
That would have been the decent thing to do.
As for Law, just signing something but didnt know what. The mind boggles at his sheer stupidity.
Perhaps the stans are better of without someone so daft.
Report this post »

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Alfreton Town refused Nicky Law permission to take up the manager's position at Avenue

Alfreton Town refused Nicky Law permission to take up the manager's position at Avenue



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