Avenue are the bookies' favourites (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

Avenue are the bookies' favourites

9:37am Friday 11th July 2008 in Sport By Ian Whiting

Bradford Park Avenue manager Dave Cameron has recruited well in the close season and his acumen and the financial backing he enjoys from the club’s board has led to the bookies making them favourites to win the UniBond Premier Division title.

That would be a second championship on the bounce. Cameron came in late last season and injected the necessary impetus to see the club claim the UniBond Division One North crown.

Like their near neighbours at Valley Parade, the number crunchers have decreed that they are the club most likely to be topping their division by the end of the season.

A flutter on either would realise a modest return, but the serious gamblers may be tempted to take a punt on a Bradford double.

Cameron is not swayed by people who set the odds. He is concentrating fully on his job of moulding the close season captures into a winning team. He has his own choice of No 2 in place now that Carl Ruffer has joined Avenue.

“We have had some great training sessions, and a run out against the supporters on the open day, so we want some games now,” said Cameron ahead of tomorrow's clash with City’s divisional rivals Macclesfield Town at Horsfall Stadium.

“We have run the players into the ground, and we know it’s an early start with the friendlies, but only games will get the lads fitter at this stage. They can run their legs off in training but they have to get sharp as well as fit.”

The Bradford boss is hoping to have one or two more squad members before the UniBond League kicks off five weeks tomorrow. One target could still be tempted to try his luck aboard.

“We have former Rochdale striker Kevin Poundson training with us and he looks very sharp - he puts quarter chances away in training, never mind half chances,” added Cameron.

“He has a good background. After Rochdale he went to Macclesfield Town, then Northwich Victoria in the Conference. He was at TNS in the Welsh League last season but has left as a free agent.

“There is a Turkish club interested in him and, obviously, that is something that the lad is considering.

"But he has enjoyed being involved here and we have a good chance of getting him but it’s a wait-and-see situation.

“It would be an option for us if he did sign because Mike Moseley had a hernia operation a week last Wednesday and will miss a lot of the pre-season.”