THERE was a winning start to life on the other side of the tracks for Martin Drury and Jamie Price after they were promoted to management roles with Park Avenue.

Bradford boss John Deacey turned to Drury to be his assistant after Mark Hume left to pursue his quest to be a manager in his own right. That in itself created a vacancy as Drury was the club’s fitness coach. He is now combining that role with his duties as number two, while Price is player-coach.

Deacey has been impressed with the pair of poachers turned gamekeepers. He said: “Pricey and Dru have done really well in their first week. They have taken to it like ducks to water.

“It’s all new to them and they have a lot to learn but their enthusiasm has been incredible. They haven’t stopped all week and they have bags and bags of energy.

“I think they feel as if they have got things to prove and they have been trying new things in training, which has gone down well with the players to be fair. They are talking about new signings and going to games to watch potential targets and opposition.”

The main thing for Deacey is that neither of his new men have had to settle in and he is comfortable in being able to carry on where he left off with his good friend Hume.

Drury was a player until hanging his boots up last month after suffering yet another injury and Price is still playing. They will be the ones that are the players’ best mates while Deacey will make all the decisions and, when necessary, take all the flack.

Deacey said: “It’s important that you’re working with someone you can trust and I have that with both of them. I have had a great relationship with them for many years and they have been two of the best players I’ve had.

“I know what they are all about and they know everything there is to know about me, the club and what the board of directors and the supporters expect. I stress to my players and coaches that I like a happy dressing room. Mind you, I don’t want them that happy that they lose their edge.

“For me there is only one way to play the game and that’s fairly. I won’t stoop to any antics to try to get an advantage. But all the good teams have a mean streak about them and a bit of ruthlessness about them.

“I think we need a bit more steel at the moment so we’ll try to get that ruthless mentality in them, develop a mean streak. We are addressing that right now.”