Departed Bradford (Park Avenue) winger gives take on exit

Instead, he was subjected to some cutting criticism from manager Danny Whitaker in the T&A last week, which came in the days following the 27-year-old’s exit.

A regular under Mark Bower and Danny Boshell for nearly half-a-decade, Dockerty found himself out of favour under interim boss Tom McStravick and then Whitaker, with his last game for the club coming on Boxing Day, as a substitute in a 3-0 defeat to runaway Northern Premier League Premier Division leaders Radcliffe.

Giving his side of the story in an interview with the T&A, Dockerty said: “I was told not to train in the end, which I feel was for no good reason.

“With me working full-time, I wasn’t able to really get any free time to train at home, so I just ended up taking a step back, enjoyed my Saturdays off and now I want to build up to go again at a new team next season.

“But I was ready and willing to play the whole time under Tom and Danny (from December to March), I was never injured at any point.”

Brad Dockerty was an unused substitute for Avenue in this disappointing derby defeat to Guiseley at Horsfall on New Year's Day. (Image: Martin Taylor.)

Detailing a dispiriting last few months, Dockerty said: “I don’t really know what happened, but maybe it had more to do with Tom than Danny, because the latter never really saw me play.

“I was playing at left back under Tom, which I’ve never done before but I was happy to help the team as we were short in that position.

“But I never got the chance under either of them to play left wing or up top, which are my strongest positions.”

It soon got worse, with Dockerty explaining: “I didn’t play for three games at one point and my dad posted something on social media criticising Tom and Danny.

“I was called into the office over it and told I wouldn’t be getting in the team, even though what my dad puts online has nothing to do with me.

“That came a week after the manager had told me I was capable of playing at a level higher, back in National League North.”

Whitaker was particularly scathing last week over Dockerty’s refusal to go out on loan.

Giving his side of the story, the winger said: “Danny wanted me to join Pontefract but I’ve been there before and their style of play doesn’t suit me.

“I said I wanted to go to Liversedge on loan instead but there was this big back and forth over money between the two clubs and it took something like nine weeks for Avenue to accept their offer.

“I wasn’t training by this point, so I turned the deal down because I wasn’t in the right shape to play, and that’s when Danny and I mutually agreed that we’d cancel my contract.”

Danny Whitaker wanted Brad Dockerty to go on loan to Pontefract, but the winger had his reason for turning that offer down. (Image: Martin Taylor)

An exasperated Dockerty added: “This only seemed to happen to me, not any other player at the club, and it was a shame because I enjoyed my time here under Bower and Bosh, who did loads for me.

“I’d love to join Bower at whichever club he ends up at next to be fair.

“But under him, I’d played three or four seasons in National League North and done well, yet Danny was asking me to prove myself to him.

“Before I got dropped this season, I had more goal contributions than anyone in the team.

“I hadn’t scored many, but I was in double figures for assists and was our most creative player, so I’m not sure why I was being asked to prove myself.

“I wouldn’t have minded if I’d been told straight that I was being moved on, but I felt a bit messed around.”