NEW Bradford Park Avenue boss Mark Bower is pleased with his first signing and hopes there will be more in the coming weeks.

After just one game in charge, the former Guiseley manager captured former Harrogate Town man Adam Nowakowski on an initial one-month loan deal from National North rivals Darlington 1883 this week.

Bower said: “Adam ticks a lot of boxes and is the type of player we have been looking to get. He’s a big powerful player with a presence on the pitch which is exactly what we’ve been lacking.

“He is a good defender, which again is an area that has not been consistent at the club, but he can also play in a few positions. We are working on other deals and we were trying to get a few done before today’s game at home to Telford.

“But at this time of the season there isn’t too much movement in the transfer market so it’s difficult. We won’t bring players in just to make changes, they have to be the right fit for the club and most of those aren’t available.”

Bower was appointed as Alex Meechan’s successor just two days before the game against FC Halifax Town and that ended disastrously with a 4-0 defeat at the Shay but the new Avenue chief is looking forward to his home debut.

He knows the enormity of the task ahead of him but is relishing the challenge and is confident that enough of the season remains for him to rescue the club’s National League status.

He added: “It was a mad couple of days before the Halifax game so we were glad of the break that followed. It gave us valuable time to work with the players and I think that has helped us immensely.

“There was plenty to do but we all worked very hard. We set the players some tough training sessions with a lot of physical work and they have put a lot of effort in.

"We know that it’s going to be a long, tough battle to get out of the bottom three but we believe we can do it if we all pull in the same direction.”