MARK Bower and the board of Bradford Park Avenue Community Football Club have one eye on next season already, and if the team takes another maximum tomorrow the planning for the new term will begin in earnest.

Avenue are nine points clear of the drop zone in the Vanarama National League North with just five games to play.

Bower was disappointed to lose the services of Wayne Brooksby for the remaining fixtures as his loan spell ended, but it might not be the attacking winger’s last game for the Bradford club.

Bower wanted to keep Brooksby but a deal with his current club Harrogate Town couldn’t be worked out.

The Avenue boss said: “Wayne’s gone back, we tried to keep him and there were talks but it just wasn’t within our budget to make his signing permanent, but we’ll definitely be monitoring the situation for next season.

“We will certainly try to get him back because he did really well for us. It was a good impact from Wayne and we had a very good record with him in the side and we thanked him for his efforts.”

There has been no confirmation from the club that former Bantams centre back and Guiseley boss Bower would still be in charge next term but it was expected after he picked the club up and steered them out of the relegation places following his appointment in late September.

Bower’s record has been impressive as the club have won 37 points from the 26 games under his stewardship.

If there was one thing that the manager would change it’s the home form of his side.

He said: “We’ve only won four at home all season, which is a big disappointment. It’s only the supporters who travel away that have seen our best and that’s something we intend to change.

“If we can replicate our away form at Horsfall Stadium we’ll be able to challenge the big clubs in this league and be in contention for the play- offs.

“Obviously it’s difficult to set targets for the future when you’re not sure which league the club’s going to be in but we are planning for pre-season.

"If we win this weekend it would all but seal our safety, and then we can look towards next season.

“I came here in September with a job to do, and that was to keep the club in the National League set-up, and that’s not confirmed yet, but we do have potential signings and targets, and as a club you have to start plans early.

"You cannot stand still in football no matter what level you’re playing. You have to keep improving and going forward.”