Bradford Park Avenue have been told by the UniBond League to kick off at 1pm at Horsfall Stadium on Saturday because their floodlights are not up to standard.

If Matlock Town had not agreed to the switch, Avenue would have had to find an alternative ground to carry out the fixture.

The club had a deadline to meet yesterday to prove the lights were up to scratch but when Bradford Council, Avenue's landlord, turned up to carry out the inspection, a bulb was out.

Avenue are believed to be furious about the situation.

Director Paul Grayson said: "The club is reliant on Bradford Council doing the job. We were told by the council that repairs would be carried out by November and that readings would be supplied. Those haven't been forthcoming from the council.

"The council is doing everything in its power to sort out the problem but Saturday's game will be a 1pm kick-off. Matlock agreed to the switch - otherwise we would have been looking for an alternative venue."

The floodlight problem is not new. The lights have been substandard all season.

Avenue received a letter from the League in September informing them they had to supply suitable readings for their lights. They were set a November deadline and the club asked the council to carry out the tests.

The League then gave Avenue until yesterday to supply readings which showed the lights were up to standard.

The race is now on to carry out improvements before the next home match after Matlock - against Burscough on February 4.

Avenue are currently negotiating a new lease deal with the council.

Should the new Odsal Village go ahead, and Horsfall is sold off for housing, Avenue would move into a stadium within the village complex. But if the village does not happen, Avenue would want a long lease on Horsfall.

The floodlighting situation is an embarrassment to the club, who have been playing their evening fixtures this season under inferior lights.

Grayson said: "The league have told us we cannot use our floodlights until the correct readings have been supplied."

l Avenue under-19s pushed Alliance League leaders Farsley Celtic all the way before losing 1-0 at Horsfall Stadium. Michael Greenbank, Rob Ryan and Asford Graham-Francis all went close.