BRADFORD Park Avenue's new management duo face a tough baptism as the National League North kicks off tomorrow.

Martin Drury and assistant Jamie Price will be pitting their wits against former Bradford City boss Nicky Law.

Alfreton Town are the visitors to Horsfall Stadium for the new season's opening fixture, before Avenue travel to Stalybridge Celtic on Tuesday and then Nuneaton Town a week tomorrow.

That means in the first eight days of the campaign, Drury's men will have played two of sides relegated from the former Vanarama Conference as well as old adversaries Stalybridge.

Adam Clayton will be in the Avenue squad after he became the latest of the current group to sign new terms. The versatile player suffered an injury nightmare last season and his deal ran out at the end of the campaign.

Drury and Price both wanted Clayton to remain with the club and they asked him and Nathan Turner, who was in the same position, to return for pre-season training.

The pair proved their fitness and Turner re-signed before last Saturday's friendly at Shaw Lane Aquaforce, with Clayton following suit in midweek.

They join seven new signings in contention for a place in the starting line-up against Alfreton after the new management team, who worked under John Deacey last term, spent the summer reshaping their squad.

It will be a return to the city for Law, who managed the Bantams for almost two years just over a decade ago.

Alfreton dropped down from the Conference but will be looking to bounce straight back and are third favourites with some bookmakers to win the National North title.

Law's outfit were relegated after finishing fourth bottom. They were just inside the drop zone on goal difference only – on the same points as Welling United, who survived and host Guiseley this weekend in the top tier of non-League soccer.

Law had to rebuild his squad following relegation and has drafted in ten players, one of which is former Avenue and Chesterfield forward Jamie Jackson.

The former City manager knows his current players are in for a stern test at Horsfall. He said: "We have had them watched and we have been speaking to a lot of people about them.

"The feeling within their camp is that they can be a force this year. They have assembled a good squad – but I think so have we.

"It will be a good game; a tough game, especially as we are away. We know their strengths and weaknesses and we will work on that and see what we can get out of it."