Bradford Park Avenue have confirmed that striker Chib Chilaka and utility man Adam Clayton are the latest players to be signed up for next season.

Avenue boss John Deacey is working his way through last term’s squad and has secured almost half of them now, with the rest looking set to follow suit.

Top scorer Paul Walker, Alex Davidson and skipper Nathan Hotte had already put pen to paper.

The likes of Martin Drury, James Knowles and Richard Marshall are expected to join the mainstay of players from last season.

Ryan Qualter, Grant Black, Scott Maxfield and Jamie Price, who returned for a second spell at Horsfall, all impressed as new recruits after signing on during last season and they too are likely to be offered new terms.

Doubts remain over Avenue manager Deacey’s son Jordan, who played a number of games for Hartlepool’s reserves last season, and goalkeeper John Lamb, while the departure of Nicky Boshell will almost certainly be confirmed.

It is understood that Boshell asked to leave midway through last term after the return of his brother Danny to Guiseley.

The Boshell brothers played together at Avenue’s Conference North rivals until a very public falling out between Danny and Steve Kittrick, the Lions manager at the time.

Danny went to Lee Sinnott’s Altrincham at the start of last season, with Nicky returning to Avenue for a second spell.

When Mark Bower, a close friend of Danny Boshell, took over at Nethermoor after Kittrick was sacked, he asked Altrincham for permission to speak to Danny.

Following discussions with the former Bantams skipper, Danny Boshell left Altrincham and was installed as the Lions’ assistant manager.

That was when the relationship between Avenue and Nicky broke down, with the younger of the Boshells asking for a move.

Meanwhile, Lamb may retire. He did quit once as he struggles with back pain but was tempted out of retirement by Deacey.

The Avenue boss hopes Lamb does commit for another term – and he does not want to lose his son but cannot hold the play-making midfielder back.

Hartlepool boss Colin Cooper stated how pleased he was with Jordan Deacey’s displays and wanted a closer look at him, so he could yet start next season in the Football League, linking up again with former team-mate Michael Duckworth.