It has been a busy time for Bradford Park Avenue boss John Deacey as he has had to rely on his many contacts in the game ahead of a critical time for the club.

Three victories, by handsome margins, in Blue Square Bet North lifted Avenue to fourth place but they then lost twice on the bounce.

The defeats both came against promotion play-off rivals and Avenue’s failure to take even a point saw them slip to fifth in the table.

Regular goalkeeper Tim Deasy picked up an injury in the most recent defeat, 2-0 at home to Gainsborough Trinity on Monday, and an amalgamation of suspensions has led to Deacey’s threadbare squad being stretched even more.

The supporters were questioning their manager’s sanity when he sent two players out on loan but Deacey feels his actions will be justified. Midfielder Ross Daly and the versatile Adam Clayton joined Farsley at the beginning of the week.

Deacey explained: “Ross had a month on loan at Thackley and he got a lot of games in. Adam had a knee operation five weeks ago and needed some game time, so we asked Farsley to take them both on loan – if they were going to get time on the pitch in competitive games.

“I watched Farsley on Tuesday when they both played, just to see how they got on, and they did well, so I was very happy with that.”

Thackley boss Vince Brockie and Farsley manager Neil Parsley are both former assistant managers to Deacey and the Avenue chief used to manage Farsley Celtic, so networking is essential in the business.

Thackley and Avenue have worked closely in recent times and the Dennyboys have a number of former Avenue men in their ranks.

So too have Farsley, with James Riley, keeper Ben Higginson, Matt Dempsey and Brice Tiani all committed to the Throstle nest outfit now following spells at Avenue.

Deacey has asked his former keeper John Lamb to come out of semi-retirement to fill the void in Deasy’s absence on a temporary basis and is open about the return date of the players he has sent out, hoping they gain match fitness.

“We need all available bodies for the second of the Guiseley games over Christmas because we have five big players out for that one,” said Deacey.

“Jordan (Deacey, the manager’s son and regular midfield starter), Nathan (Hotte), Knowlesy (skipper James Knowles), Matty (James) and Scoobie (Richard Marshall) will all be suspended on New Year’s Day and that is when we play Guiseley at home.

“We all work with squads these days but it means we will be without half of a team that could have started any game.

“I have to thank Thackley and Farsley for giving game time to our players but I need Ross and Adam back in time for that one.”