While John Deacey was on a brief sabbatical, he took in a lot of games as a spectator as well as just keeping his finger on the pulse.

He would have been justified in feeling a tinge of envy as he watched the two clubs that pipped his Avenue side to promotion to Blue Square Bet North but instead he marvelled at their continued progress.

Deacey said: “At the end of last season, we missed out on promotion even though we finished second in the UniBond Premier. But when you look at it, we were in good company, weren’t we.”

It was a rhetorical question as the Avenue boss recalled the exciting final furlong of last term’s title race.

Deacey quit after the play-off final defeat to Boston United, Avenue having had home advantage in the winner-takes-all game as they finished higher in the table.

The manager insisted at the time that his mind was made up and the board informed in the last week of the campaign. After refusing to alter his decision in the close season, he spoke of “unfinished business” on his recent return to Horsfall.

Deacey said: “While I had the time, I went watch Guiseley and Boston in the Blue Square and it was fantastic to see them doing so well. They were competing at the top end and there was no question of them just getting a foothold or consolidating.

“I watched them both a few times and I think it says a lot about the quality that was in the UniBond last season. Neither club had made big changes to their squad over the summer, they had just added a few players because the higher you get the deeper your squad has to be.

“I think Steve (Lions manager Kittrick) has done a great job and it’s lovely to see – for him and the club because they are both well liked in football circles and long may their combined success continue.

“You don’t win two manager of the month awards in a division like that by accident. For Steve to win two on the trot just shows what a great job he’s doing and good luck to him.

“I have always liked Guiseley as a club as well as it’s full of very nice people who do things the right way. I just think it would be nice for us to follow them up and bring that keen local rivalry back.”