Former Bradford City and Huddersfield Town defender Lee Sinnott is looking to rebuild his excellent reputation as a manager at Bradford Park Avenue.

Sinnott was denied an inaugural match in charge of the Bantams’ cross-city rivals when Avenue’s UniBond League fixture at Worksop Town fell foul of the weather.

The Saturday inactivity meant the Horsfall outfit dropped out of the Premier Division play-off places.

Affectionately known as ‘Sinbad’ by everyone within the football world, Sinnott wants to put his sacking from Port Vale behind him.

He rose to prominence as a manager with nearby Farsley Celtic after beginning his coaching career with the youth teams at Leeds United.

“This news is the best new year’s present this club could have ever dreamed of,” said ecstatic Avenue chief executive Bob Blackburn, who has been tracking Sinnott’s availability since the holiday period.

“He took some tying down – not from his part, I have to say, but because of contractual difficulties left over from his time with Port Vale – but we are all absolutely delighted he is here. It’s a big coup for our club.”

Sinnott took over at Farsley when they were in UniBond League Division One and steered the club to three promotions in four seasons.

He was head hunted by the Valiants, who were in Coca-Cola League One at the time while the Throstle Nest outfit were mid-table in the Conference, which had been renamed the Blue Square Premier.

The Potteries outfit were not prepared to wait for Sinnott to work his magic and he was removed after less than a year. He has been unattached since but is desperate to return to the game.

“Lee is a quality manager with a lot to offer and nothing to prove,” said Avenue owner Blackburn.

“His past record speaks for itself and he has done it at this level and above. I can only see this being a very successful partnership and Lee taking the club a very long way.”

John Deacey, who has been managing Avenue since the week after Dave Cameron’s shock resignation, worked alongside Sinnott during the rise of Farsley. He will now move aside to become Sinnott’s assistant once more.

Blackburn explained: “There is no ill feeling. John is delighted to be linking up with Lee again.

“The rest of the board and myself have nothing but praise for John. The way he has handled things since he came in and the results he has achieved have been well above expectations.

“When Lee became available, I think it was more him being fed up and wanting to get back into it. We were first to approach him and we are all over the moon – John included – that we got our man.”

It will be a full-time appointment because Sinnott will not only manage Avenue’s first team but also be installed as director of football at the club’s new La Liga Soccer Centre at Thornbury.

Meanwhile, Avenue’s under-19s host neighbours Liversedge in the Alliance League at Horsfall tomorrow (7.45pm).