Bradford Park Avenue boss John Deacey will have an increased budget for his playing staff in the coming season and is well on the way to formulating his squad.

The club’s finance director Kevin Hainsworth said this week: “We feel we are getting there in terms of planning and preparation for next season.

“In fairness, we have kept the majority of the players from last season. We have upped our budget and we are working on bringing in new players, and we will get them because we have a fantastic manager in John.

“He has identified players he wants to sign and we are working very hard but the competition for these players is very fierce.

"We have spoken to some already but lost out because some other club has come in with a bigger offer.

“You can’t knock the players for signing for the biggest pay packet because they have to look after themselves.

"I think its going to be a tough league this season as well because there will be club’s pushing the boat out.

“We will have a good squad for next season and we are looking forward to it already but the close season will be hard.

"We are well on the way with arranging friendlies, getting last season’s squad committed for longer and doing work on the pitch and the ground.

“But I don’t think the supporters are aware just how much time and effort goes in at this time of year.

"The board members are all working on bringing in new sponsors and business partners, and John and Mark (assistant manager Hume) are chasing potential new signings.

“We all have to sit down and have regular meetings to bring us all up to date with developments, and John and I are talking to players almost every evening. The hours are long but we all do it because we want the best for Avenue.

“It will be a tough season coming up because some of our rivals in the Conference North are spending big again but we have a competitive budget and, in my opinion, the best manager in the league.”