BRADFORD (Park Avenue) boss Mark Bower is keen for his squad to continue pushing forward ahead of the up-and-coming campaign.

Due to the pandemic, Park Avenue's 2020-21 season was declared null and void, which left a bit of dampener on boss Bower, who feels his side were on the up prior to the season's closure.

Since then, the Bradford side have managed to tie down a number of key players on contracts, including Luca Havern, Nicky Clee, Brad Dockerty and most recently, midfield maestro Isaac Marriot.

And Bower, who was pleased with the way his side finished the season, is keen for his squad to remain together for the foreseeable.

Bower said: "We were pleased with the way we got the team playing before the season was declared null and void.

"It didn’t feel like a proper end to the season, as you'd expect, but the coaching staff and players are keen to continue from where we left off.

"The summer won't be the same, where there will be eight or nine players leaving or coming in, so for that reason, it's key that we keep as many players as we can, so we can push on.

"We are very pleased that we managed to extend Isaac Marriot's contract.

"He did really well for us last season and I think he has come on an awful lot as a player, especially over the past 12-18 months, since he's been involved with us.

"He became a really key player for us, with his unbelievable energy in midfield and if we can improve other aspects of his game, we've got a real good player on our hands."

After losing pacey forward Lewis Knight to Notts County, Bower feels his exit can't be overlooked, and the squad can be improved to counter the club's ability to retain key players.

Discussing potential incomings, Bower said: "We lost Lewis Knight in March, so we are probably a body light in the forward areas of the pitch.

"We are certainly looking to strengthen that department. We've got a couple that we are looking at and there will definitely be a couple of new additions to the squad, however I don't think there will be massive wholesale changes within the squad.

"We've got to get that mix right again between having the experienced core, players that we know and we can rely on, along with having younger lads who've got potential and who can go out there and express themselves without fear.

"I'm quite pleased with where we are at. Normally at this stage we would be just finishing the season and starting to look ahead.

"But we are well advanced with preparations and there will be more announcements over the next few weeks."

On the prospects of fans returning, Bower said: "We are excited for them to return.

"There is a real tight-knit feel at the club, and the players and fans have a great relationship.

"It has been a bit sad and empty really, whenever we've played matches."