A postponement before Christmas and a rash of away fixtures have stretched the club's financial resources - and manager Phil Sharpe is indebted to his chairman for making up the shortfall.

Funds from Dr John Dean (pictured) have ensured Ave-nue have ridden the storm.

"With the Brigg Town game the day before Christmas Eve being called off, it has been a long while since we have had a match at Horsfall," said Sharpe.

"It is ridiculous scheduling by whoever decides the fixtures. We have had two at home in a month. That is not just damaging in terms of results and form but also on the financial side.

"The chairman has personally been keeping the club afloat, that just shows his commitment to this club.

"He has been fantastic with the club and to myself and Clive (assistant manager) on a personal level in all our dealings with him.

"From my point of view, he has gone well above and beyond the call of duty. That tells me that he loves this club.

"He is here for the long haul and he cares passionately about Avenue and the city of Bradford in general."

Dean was one of the first three employees to work for Saltaire electronics firm Filtronic, set up by Professor David Rhodes, father of Bradford City chairman Julian.

He got involved at Avenue when Frank Thornton was forced to take a less active role due to ill health.

Thornton was a driving force from the moment the club re-formed in 1988 but, with his business interests and his home located in Oxford, it was a tough job.

Thornton had the foresight to know he could not keep running the club from that distance and instigated the changes to the boardroom set-up.

Dean, a long-time Avenue supporter, was the ideal candidate to become the figurehead.

Perhaps he did not expect to be the benefactor to such a tune but he has not faltered in the slightest - despite the club dropping from the Conference North to the UniBond second tier.

"Clive and myself weren't here then but we watched the club dropping like a stone and it saddened us. We are both former players and worked on the management staff under Trevor Storton," added Sharpe.

"Having been handed the job of turning the fortunes of Avenue around, we are giving it everything.

"But after being involved and seeing just how much the chairman does and what lengths he is prepared to go to make the club successful, it has given us extra incentive.

"We wanted to turn it round for the Avenue supporters when we came. Now we want to get us back up there for the chairman's sake. He deserves to see them successful again."