MANAGER Mark Bradshaw is expecting a tough encounter at the Tameside Stadium tomorrow (Saturday) when CURZON ASHTON open the new National League North season against Bradford Park Avenue.
He sees the Yorkshire side as in a similar position to his own and does not expect Avenue’s stormy summer, which culminated in the shock departure of chief executive Damian Irvine earlier this week, to affect their performance.
“There have been some massive changes at Bradford. I think their new manager, Garry Thompson, has kept only one player from the squad that got through to last season’s play-offs,” Bradshaw commented.
“It’ll be Garry’s first game in charge. He’s a good, experienced player and has worked hard in pre-season to assemble a competitive squad. Only today he’s signed Akeem Hinds, a full-back, from Rotherham United.”
Bradshaw says he knows his line-up for tomorrow and has notified the players. James Baillie and Matt Regan are injured and two others have been left out.
“They’ll be disappointed but that’s part and parcel of football. It’s up to them now to fight for their place or ship out. It’s up to them,” Bradshaw said.
Of the match as a whole, he added: “It’s going to be hard to gauge. Neither Garry nor myself will know what’s going to happen until the game begins. It’s the same for both of us.
“Hopefully, we’ll get the start we need and one or two of our players will get the confidence and belief they need. In short, we’re excited, looking forward to it and ready to go.”
Bradford have weathered a turbulent summer which culminated in the shock departure of chief executive Damian Irvine who was responsible for launching what was billed as a new and progressive era.
Shortly after qualifying for last May’s play-offs, in which they lost in the quarter-finals, manager Mark Bower left Horsfall Stadium by mutual consent. He was replaced by Thompson, a former EFL winger.
The news Irvine was leaving was announced on Monday (July 29) in a terse statement saying he was going with immediate effect. Despite demands by fans and the press, Avenue have so far refused to elaborate.