Deacey plans no favours for old Bradford Park Avenue friend Sinnott (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

John Deacey plans no favours for old Bradford Park Avenue friend Lee Sinnott

6:10pm Thursday 7th March 2013 in Sport By Ian Whiting

Bradford Park Avenue boss John Deacey comes face to face with one-time mentor Lee Sinnott on Saturday when Avenue host Altrincham in Blue Square Bet North.

Deacey was former Bantams and Huddersfield defender Sinnott’s assistant at Farsley Celtic and then again at Horsfall Stadium.

That was Deacey’s first spell with Avenue and this is his third – and his stock is now as high as Sinnott’s, who managed Port Vale after leaving Farsley.

The respective clubs of the old friends are both battling for a place in the play-offs, although Altrincham currently have the edge. The visitors are fifth, just inside the play-off zone, while Deacey’s men are eighth.

The Avenue boss said: “I’m looking forward to locking horns with Lee yet again. We still stay in close contact and it will be nice to see him – but the friendship will be put to one side for 90 minutes.

“It will be difficult for us because Altrincham are a top-quality side and in Mills, Watmore and Reeves I think they have the most consistent attacking firepower in the division.

“Lee is in his second season there and has put together a really good squad. He has great ability as a manager and it will be a challenge.

“It didn’t work out for him at Avenue but sometimes that happens. For whatever reason, sometimes things don’t gel – but that is no reflection on the manager or the club. It happens at every level and we have seen it from the Premier League down.”

Avenue enjoyed two fine victories last Saturday and Monday which took their run to four league wins on the bounce.

One of those was a confidence-boosting 7-0 victory over relegation-threatened Droylsden but Altrincham also put the Bloods to the sword, winning 5-0 at the Butchers Arms in midweek.

Deacey is waiting for injury news on five of his players following Monday’s 1-0 home win over Workington.

He said: “Adam Clayton, Paul Walker, Tom Corner, Alex Davidson and Nathan Hotte are all having a bit of trouble. None of them have trained this week, so we will have to judge it on the day.

“It is a big game for us and the last thing you need is a few lads out. But they are all minor knocks so I’m hopeful – and we need them because we have such a small squad.”