Former Bradford Park Avenue boss tipped to make play-offs (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

Former Bradford Park Avenue boss Lee Sinnott tipped to make play-offs

7:00pm Friday 8th March 2013 in Sport By Ian Whiting

Bradford boss John Deacey has tipped tomorrow’s opponents Altrincham to land a place in the Blue Square Bet North play-offs – and he hasn’t given up hope of his side joining them.

The Avenue manager is not in the habit of talking up his rivals in the prelude to a big game but he made an exception.

It’s no great surprise as his opposite number is one of Deacey’s best mates.

The boss of today’s visitors to Horsfall Stadium is Lee Sinnott.

He may be a Midlander by birth but ‘Sinbad’ is well-known across West York-shire, having had three spells at Valley Parade, one with Huddersfield Town and then cutting his teeth in management at Farsley Celtic.

Sinnott made a bright start and, after taking Farsley up to the Conf-erence with Deacey as his assistant, he was head-hunted by Port Vale but the Potteries club were struggling at the time.

He presided over a relegation season before the former central defender had a stint at the Park Avenue helm.

Deacey said: “We are still in close contact, of course we are.

“I expected Altrincham to be challenging this season because Lee got the job in the last campaign and now it’s his squad.

“I think the top three in our division are pretty much nailed on – Chester, Guiseley and Brackley Town. It’s in that order at the moment but who knows how it will finish.

“Then you have clubs like Halifax Town, Altrincham, Harrogate Town, and Gains-borough Trinity. And then us – just hanging on by our fingertips.

“It will be difficult for us to snatch fifth place but we’re not out of it yet so who knows?

“We gave our chances a boost with two wins last week (7-0 at Droylesden and 1-0 at home to Workington Town)) and we have to play Gainsborough, Harrogate and Halifax very soon.”

Harrogate and Halifax had to play twice in mid-week, with the North Yorkshire side coming out on top when they met on Thursday.

That led Deacey to cheekily add: “Let’s hope by the time they play us, they are absolutely shattered.”

But he admitted he was not holding out for that possibility.