The waterlogged pitch at Horsfall Stadium robbed new Bradford Park Avenue boss John Deacey of a home game to begin his tenure but it gave him more time to assess the current playing staff.

In the build-up to Saturday’s UniBond Premier Division fixture against Ashton United, the recently-installed manager had said he would be relying heavily on input from his assistant.

Deacey accepted the job offered by the Bradford board last Wednesday, with goalkeeping coach Gary Stokes appointed his No 2.

The pair worked together, alongside Lee Sinnott, for many seasons at Farsley Celtic and Stokes was caretaker-manager at Avenue after previous boss Dave Cameron walked out.

Cameron was being assisted by former Liverpool and West Ham United midfielder Mike Marsh. He was in line to be named caretaker ahead of Stokes but Marsh had a previously booked break in Spain and jetted out of the country.

Marsh was asked to stay on in a coaching capacity but decided on a clean break from the club.

He told the T&A before he went on his holiday that he was unsure about accepting the manager’s role, should it be offered to him, and that he would step aside if someone else came in.

That man was Deacey and he has now had extra time to see his players in training thanks to Saturday’s downpour.

“I think we need additions to the squad if we are going to get into the play-offs,” he said.

“There are some very good players here but there are problem areas. That’s not a surprise, you are not going to inherit the perfect squad. The previous manager would have stayed here if that was the case.

“I expect we will use the loan system, especially early doors, because we have good contacts in the game.

“We should have had two lads in from Leeds United on Saturday and we hope to speak to Bradford City soon.

“We won’t bring players in just for the sake of it and our long term aim is to have a squad at Avenue that is made up of our own players who are good enough to take the club forward. There will definitely be some movement regarding permanent transfers.

“But I know Gary McAllister very well and I have a good relationship with Stuart McCall so I hope our two nearest neighbours in the Football League will help us out because both managers have loaned us players before and seen them develop.

“For now we will work with the players here.

“I have told them all I will give them every chance to prove themselves. I will stand by my word but they will have to grasp that chance quickly.

“The board and the fans of Avenue deserve success and I want to bring some to this fine football club.

“The supporters have stuck with Bradford through ups and downs and there is a base that can be built on. That can only be good for the club.

“The board is something else. They are the most enthusiastic and hard-working group of people you could wish to meet. They know there is work to be done but they have pledged to provide whatever is necessary, and that doesn’t just mean money. It is everything about the structure of the club.”

Avenue chief executive Bob Blackburn is disappointed that Marsh did not want to stay.

“I kept Mike informed regarding who had applied, what we were planning after the interview stage and asked him to remain on board,” said Blackburn.

“Mike is one of the best young coaches in the game, he is innovative and every session is different. I told him that the new manager was prepared to work alongside him and that his money was guaranteed.

“To his credit Mike didn’t just want to stay here and pick up the brass, he said he wanted to step aside and make the route clear for the new regime. I thanked him and he went on his way, he is a genuine bloke, I wished him well.”