BRADFORD Park Avenue will climb out of the relegation zone in Vanarama National League North tomorrow if they can secure a home win and the players are confident they can beat fellow strugglers Brackley Town.

The 20th-placed hosts trail their visitors by two points and Brackley have played a game more.

However, they know just how hard they will have to work for their victory, especially when the new-manager syndrome is factored in.

Tomorrow will be Kevin Wilkin’s first league game in charge following last weekend’s 3-1 FA Cup win against Tooting & Mitcham United.

The Brackley boss took over from Frank Sinclair, the former Chelsea defender who was looking after the club on an interim basis.

The 47-year-old former Coventry City, Northampton Town and Rushden & Diamonds striker Wilkin brings a wealth of management experience with him to the Saints.

Wilkin parted company with Wrexham just a day after his former club were beaten at Wembley Stadium in last season’s FA Trophy final.

He had led the former Football League club to the final, and they were huge favourites against Avenue’s rivals North Ferriby United but lost on penalties after extra-time.

Wilkin ended his playing career at Nuneaton Borough, and later managed Nuneaton Town following the club’s restructure and got them promoted to what was then the Conference Premier before being tempted away by Wrexham.

The Saints were helped to their FA Cup win last weekend by their on-loan left back Jack Truelove.

The 19-year-old Oldham Athletic player, described as ‘a gifted footballer’ by his parent club and Sinclair – who signed him before Wilkin’s arrival and also took him on loan when he was manager of Colwyn Bay – scored his first senior goal.

Despite their current lowly standings, both Brackley and Avenue go into the game unbeaten in their last three league fixtures, and both will be keen to put points on the board as they are both back in FA Cup action next weekend.

Avenue banked five points from their three games, while tomorrow’s visitors gained only three from a run of drawn games.

Horsfall boss Martin Drury has a clean bill of health following Saturday’s last-gasp 2-1 win at Consett, with only long-term casualty Adam Clayton unavailable for selection.