OLD boy Simon Ainge is set to pose a new threat to Park Avenue when they visit Harrogate Town today.

The experienced defender was switched to attack last week and scored four times as he helped his side to a 6-3 win over Alfreton – their first victory in four games.

Mark Bower, who this week signed Aidan Chippendale from Stalybridge Celtic and is hoping to add further fire power, believes that Ainge's conversion to attack underlines the difficulty managers have in recruiting goalscorers.

The Avenue manager said: “They deserve to be higher up the table but they’ve had a few injury problems. Whether that led to them using Ainge up front, I don’t know, but it worked for them.”

Bower said, “I’m sure they will play him up front against us after he got four last weekend. We will just have to be ready to cope with the goal threat that is Simon Ainge!

“Seriously though, he’s always been a threat at set-pieces and is always a presence in both boxes. He’s an excellent player who possesses good qualities but it just goes to show that quality players are hard to come by.

“There has been a clamour for me to sign some goal scoring forwards to give us an extra edge. But these players are just not on the market and if a club like Harrogate – with their resources – are going with a centre back up front it speaks volumes.”

There is no doubting Ainge’s quality or ability, he began his career at Bradford City and has starred for Avenue, Guiseley Luton Town and Harrogate. Former Bradford City skipper Bower knows him well.

Bower said, “He is a class player, he’s strong in the air, good into feet and he can certainly strike a ball from a set-piece or open play. The move up front may be a great success for him but I hope he isn’t successful against us."

One man Bower hopes will be a hit it Chippendale. He said: "I think we have made a very good signing by bringing in Aidan. He’s a local lad and at 24 he’s a good age. We’ve got an older squad on average and players like Aidan and Jack Dyche bring a lot of energy to the team.

“Aidan started at City and he’s glad to be back in his home town. He had Football League experience with a few other clubs but he knows about this league and I think he’ll be a great addition for us.”