BRADFORD (Park Avenue) manager Mark Bower has no issue with the Bulls playing on their patch, saying that the rugby league club choosing to stage their non-first team games there for the time being could benefit his football team financially.

Some Avenue fans on social media have expressed dismay at what effect midweek rugby games could have on the playing surface at Horsfall, but Bower does not deem it as a setback.

Speaking ahead of their first home game since the announcement, against Kettering Town in the Vanarama National League North tomorrow, Bower said: “It’s not frustrating news really. We’re wanting to sign players so if this brings in money for us then it’s got to be done.

Read more: Dudley Hill 'really disappointed' as Bulls explain pitch switch

“It’s all part of where we are with funds. We’ve got to be realistic. Long-term as well, it incorporates into our plans for the 3G surface (set to be laid at the end of the football season).

“It would be the same for both teams, so whoever copes best with that will win. We’ve had poor surfaces due to the weather this season anyway.

“We had a really wet autumn and you can see the problems that’s caused throughout the leagues.

“Even watching Bradford City, you can see how much Valley Parade has been cut up.

“That’s been followed through by us having a bad winter too.”

Bulls reserves were due to host Castleford at Horsfall last night but the wet weather put paid to it, casting some doubt over whether the pitch will be fit for Kettering's visit.

Avenue’s away trip to King’s Lynn Town last weekend was also postponed, with Bower saying: “There were mixed emotions about that.

“We had a crushing defeat to Gloucester in our previous game so we maybe needed a bit of time, and we had a couple of niggles going into King’s Lynn that have cleared up, which is good given our small squad.

“But now it means a Tuesday night at King’s Lynn and their games are going to get bigger and bigger (as they push for promotion). We’ve just got to deal with that and that’s what we’ll do.”

For now they have to deal with Kettering, and Bower said: “Kettering are strong and experienced. They’ve not won as many recently (none in four) but they’ve had a decent run over a longer period where they’ve not lost too many.

“We’ve both had postponements and no game for a couple of weeks. We should now have a fully-fit squad, but it’s about turning performances into results, as that’s been the missing ingredient.”

Despite having a fit squad, Avenue are down a man, with centre-back Liam Hughes leaving to join Frickley Athletic on dual registration.

Bower said: “Hughesy did well at centre-half. He put in some good performances and popped up with a couple of goals.

“But this is the reality of the position we’re in. When you have players on non-contract deals this is always a possibility.

“There’ll be a couple of players you want to keep, like Hughesy and Keith Lowe, who left last month, but if they do well and want to move on, it’s difficult to do anything about it.

“We wish Liam well and you never know, maybe in future our paths will cross again.”