OUTGOING finance director Kevin Hainsworth still doesn’t know who is going to step up to replace him on the board but he feels whoever it is will struggle to take the club forward because of their neighbours.

Hainsworth points to Valley Parade and a strong Bradford City side that has enjoyed recent success. That, he feels, is one of the reasons why Avenue are failing to attract the younger supporter.

“We have come a long way forward and are playing at a very decent level, we’re in the sixth tier of the English game,” said Hainsworth.

“But we have not grabbed the recognition of the Bradford public and that’s partly because City have done so well.”

Hainsworth has returned from a battery charging week away in the sun in time for today’s Vanarama Conference North home game against fellow strugglers Gloucester City.

Taking a short break in the football season is something Hainsworth has not been able to do due to the amount of hours he has had to spend working on club business. Now that he has scaled back on his duties he is getting his life back.

Hainsworth said, “I couldn’t understand why last Saturday’s FA Trophy tie was off because when I was told that it was frozen it was 24 degrees where I was in the Canary Islands.

“That is something I’ve missed because even in close season the football club never stops. There is always something to do, players to negotiate with, league meetings to attend and masses and masses of paperwork.

“It is a mammoth job but people just think you turn up and get stuck into the prawn sandwiches. We speak to the people down at City, Mark Lawn, Julian and Dave (Baldwin), when he was there, and the level of work is just the same whether you’re in League One, Conference North or the Premier League.

“Things are going well down at City now and while it’s great for them – and the city – it has hurt us up at Avenue. Many of our supporters still remember us from our Football League days and we know that if the club is to have a long term future we need to engage the younger people and get new fans on board.

“Even the young City fans can remember City in the big time and teams like Man United coming to Valley Parade. They had a bit of tailspin after that, the euphoria never lasts, but they are on the up again.

“We’re trying to get young football fans to support Bradford but the kids want to go to Wembley and watch City rather than come to Horsfall Stadium and who can blame them.

“I’ve had some great times with Avenue and I’ve been a supporter as long as I can remember but that is one of the reasons why I’m stepping aside. I want someone to come in with fresh ideas, new approaches to bringing sponsors on board and to take the club forward again.”