Tough managerial baptism for Mark Ellis at Eccleshill United

The former Bantams’ winger is a UEFA A-licence coach but management is not his chosen path.

Ellis is the Eagles’ director of football but he must lead the club, who are fourth from bottom and advertising their first-team position, when they take on second-placed Louth Town.

Ellis explained: “Graham Mitchell is in temporary charge but he has a prior arrangement. He is doing the summarising on City’s game at Burton for one of the local radio stations and didn’t want to let them down.”

Mitchell, a former Bantams and Terriers centre back, has taken charge of just one Eagles game but will be in the hot seat for the rest of the month after this weekend.

Eagles’ local rivals Albion Sports are without a game as their landlords Bradford Park Avenue have a home fixture.

Albion boss Kulwinder Sandhu said: “We should have played Grimsby Borough and we offered them the chance to switch it to their ground but they didn’t want to so unfortunately we have another blank weekend.”

In the Premier Division, fourth-placed Brighouse Town head to struggling Hall Road Rangers hoping to pick up a maximum that would keep them up with the leading pack.

Town are seven points off the pace and would not move up a place even with a win but they have games in hand on the three clubs above them.

Liversedge have home advantage for a mid-table scuffle against Parkgate.

Sedge were held to a home draw in midweek but they boosted their confidence by mounting a memorable comeback.

With an hour gone, they trailed 4-1 to Heanor Town but a late rally saw them claim a point.

Thackley are immediately above Parkgate so they will be hoping neighbours Sedge do them a favour.

The Dennyboys are eighth and host third-from-bottom Winterton Rangers, so a home win – which would see Thackley through the 30-point barrier this season - and Parkgate failing to gain a maximum would put daylight between the clubs.