Bradford Park Avenue promotion stars backed to make grade (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)
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Bradford Park Avenue promotion stars backed to make grade
4:10pm Friday 8th June 2012 in Sport By Ian Whiting
GOOD ENOUGH: Bob Blackburn says Avenue’s promotion heroes can make the step up
New arrivals on the playing staff are imminent at Horsfall Stadium but the hierarchy are not about to dismantle last term’s squad.
Manager John Deacey informed the board of his intended targets before heading off on a short break.
The club are currently holding negotiations with two players who were with Blue Square Bet North Division outfits last season but are now free agents.
Bradford ’s chief executive Bob Blackburn said: “John has some irons in the fire and we have been talking with a few players.
“But there won’t be any signings just yet because we are waiting for John to get back before we have a get-together.
“He is due back any day now. He has been away playing in a veterans’ world cup tournament which is an annual thing for John.
“We are going to sit down soon and I mean all of us – myself, our chairman, the finance director, John and his assistant Mark Hume.
“We haven’t finalised the playing budget yet but we will do everything we can to provide John with the funds he needs.
“It is the same with the ground improvements. You have to dig deep if you want your team to do well.”
The club’s owner insists there will be no major overhaul of the playing squad. Blackburn feels that is not needed after the promotion success of last term.
He said: “It looks like a good side that just needs a few additions.
“It’s obvious that we need a bigger squad now and the extra players have to have quality and hopefully experience of the higher league.
“Last season’s squad will be given their chance.
“After all, they are the lads who got us here. I don’t see any of them struggling in the Conference North personally.
“We play football and, when you go up a division, you usually find that the opposition likes to play the game and the surfaces are better.
“If you look at the sides that have gone up recently, like Guiseley, Boston, Halifax and Colwyn Bay, they have done well once they have earned that promotion.
“We know it will be tough and we know it is a massive step for the club but we are looking forward to it.”
Comments(3)
trueBradfordian
says...
10:46pm Sat 9 Jun 12
arhmen aleg
says...
12:28am Sun 10 Jun 12
With a fantastic sense of bonding.
Heres hoping that spirit continues in stark contrast to the embittered abusive manner in which the fans forum is administered to the total exclusion of the moderators influence.
Well I suppose I should have known better having seen the nasty manner in which many of these forums operate.
But thankfully the players are the important ones in the club and their fantastic spirit will not be broken with the existence of such enemies from within.
So many embittered sad lives that vent lifes frustrations with make believe lies and deception.
It makes them feel better.
I think.
So smile and be happy that such humanity exists.
It makes one realise how lucky we are.
To not be taking part.
arhmen aleg says...
4:26am Sat 9 Jun 12
Two articles in a week that incorrectly refer to the CEO as the owner and shareholder Mr Robert Stuart Blackburn.
I thought the T & A had correctly ascertained the position as to who owned BPA in a previous bad news story printed by another journalist.
A simple companies house search will avail you of the facts.
Bob Blackburn is not the owner.
How can this newspaper ever be hoped to be taken seriously when they get things so wrong.
That is not to decry the wonderfull gesture he has made in donating substantial sums of his hard gotten gains to such a noble and glorious cause.
The power and the glory.Amen