IT HAS been a week of change for Bradford Park Avenue since last Saturday's 2-0 home defeat to promotion-chasing Tamworth.

The game proved to be the last in charge for Martin Drury and his number two Jamie Price. A board meeting was arranged for Monday resulted in Tuesday's announcement of Darren Edmondson as the club's new manager.

The departing Drury admitted: "We both left following the meeting with the board feeling it was the best solution for all parties.

"Myself and Jamie both hoped it would be different but we feel that we have built a foundation. We all hope the club can go forward, gain promotion and reach its full potential."

Despite the club's lowly position in National League North, he added: "I don't believe that the club will go down and there has certainly never been a feeling among the players that they would get relegated. In fact the spirit is high within the group, as it has been all season.

"I was overwhelmed by the number of calls I got from people within the game on Tuesday morning. I had the Tamworth manager on the phone and he talked of the fine margins in the game, football as a whole and the game we played against them last week.

"We are not leaving a club in crisis. I believe that we are leaving a healthy club with an excellent squad of players and a marvellous set of supporters."

Drury, a popular player with the club, and Price took over from John Deacey just weeks after last season ended. It was their first venture into management after both had held coaching roles in the previous regime.

Drury is now looking forward to future challenges. "I've been coaching at Bradford City for a few months and I'm really enjoying it there so I'll stay busy within the game coaching and look for the next managing opportunity that arises," he revealed.

"There are some great people at Bradford City and I am grateful to be there.

"I have my own philosophy of how to play the game and at times this season that's been showcased but as the season has gone on, it's become increasingly difficult to enforce my style of football for a number of reasons.

"I look forward to the next venture when that becomes available and I'll ensure that my beliefs and my vision are consistent.

"I'm sure the club will finish in a respectable position with the games in hand they have and I hope the players go on to win the County Cup final that we have reached, as we did last season."