Deal for Law falls through
10:15pm Monday 3rd March 2008
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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