MARK Bower is quite happy for Bradford Park Avenue to take a breather after resisting the temptation to fill their blank Saturday with a rearranged league game.

Not all of the National North teams are still involved in the FA Trophy but there are no scheduled matches in the division.

Avenue were knocked out 2-0 at Stockport County, having won at Edgeley Park the previous week to boost their chances of climbing out of the drop zone.

Bower said: "I don't think there would have been any mileage in trying to rearrange a league game.

"It would have been difficult because a lot of our rivals are still in the Trophy – but that's not the only thing against the idea.

"The loan deals of Oli Johnson and Adam Nowakowski ran out after last Saturday's game and they returned to their parent clubs."

Johnson is back at Guiseley, who had refused permission for Johnson to play for Avenue against Stockport in the Trophy because he would have been cup-tied.

Nowakowski returned to Darlington and his position is, as yet, unclear as the Quakers and the player are yet to decide on the next move. He may restart his career with Avenue's league rivals after regaining full fitness in his time at Horsfall.

Bower said: "Having a free week has given us a bit of breathing space as we look for new recruits to cover for Oli and Adam.

"We have our targets and the extra week before we play Brackley at home next Saturday has worked out well because it means we're not rushing around.

"There may be the chance that we get Oli and Adam back from their clubs, either in another short-term loan deal or until the end of the season.

"At this moment we just don't know, so we are working on two or three different outcomes because we have to be ready to bring new players in before the Brackley game."

Bower is delighted that goalkeeper Jon Worsnop has signed a new deal to remain with Avenue – and he is also glad to be reunited with young stopper Ed Hall – but he was keen to thank departing keeper Dan Eccles.

He said: "I'm very happy with the goalkeeping situation at the moment now that we've got Spider (Worsnop) on contract. He's a top-quality keeper and very experienced.

"Ed is also very good but a lot younger. I've worked with him before when he was with the academy at Guiseley and he's played for a couple of the local clubs.

"Dan is also a very good prospect but he was covering an awful lot of miles and it just wasn't fair for a number two keeper.

"He was travelling in from Barrow. He used to share the journey with Jack Ryan but since Jack has gone to Workington, Dan has been coming down on his own just to train with Spider and sit on the bench."