Bradford Park Avenue manager Benny Phillips jetted back into the country in time to oversee yesterday's fixture at Newcastle Blue Star - but he could have extended his stay at the club chief executive's Spanish villa instead.

The game in the north east was postponed late on Friday evening, when the home side contacted Avenue to prevent them embarking on a fruitless journey. Phillips returned from his fact-finding mission on the continent the same day.

"We have sorted out some training facilities in Santa Grande and our warm weather training as part of next pre-season is becoming more of a possibility as each day passes," said the Avenue boss.

"Nothing is finalised at the moment and a lot depends on our success on the pitch but there are some very positive plans. We have been building bridges, making contacts and generally making people aware of Bradford Park Avenue, our current standing and our desire to get back into the Football League.

"We have looked around the facilities of some of the clubs and negotiations regarding some pre-season friendlies are quite advanced. If we are coming out here for a two-week period I would prefer two or three games rather than a fortnight of just training.

"There is a club by the name of Union Deportivo, who are the equivalent of a third division club in England. That is the kind of opponent that would suit our preparations for next term perfectly."

Avenue have also discovered that Arsenal host soccer schools in the area and have talked to the Premier League giants as well.

"They are looking for something we can offer them, rather than the other way around," said Phillips.

"Their teams of various ages are looking to visit England and play a couple of games against our junior sides. It could turn out that we play one of our junior sides against them at Horsfall Stadium, or that a mini-tournament is arranged.

"A four-team round robin with the top two sides playing off for a trophy is a possibility we are looking at for the first team. It would be a competitive group involving three other sides but we haven't decided whether that should take place at home or in Spain.

"This is the optimum time to be dealing with next season's pre-season preparations, rather than leaving it too late. Many non-league clubs start putting out feelers to their nearest Football League neighbours and Conference sides after the season ends.

"That is far too late as most of the available dates have gone by then. By starting the groundwork now, the clubs we want to play against will be sure of our commitment and will be more likely to deal with us because of that. We will have become a safe option, a sound bet, and that is why we are doing the legwork now."

Avenue owner Bob Blackburn, the Bradford born and raised building company mogul, funded the trip to Spain and put the raising of his club's profile at the top of the agenda.

After circulating free tickets to cast the net and increase the club's fan-base, then canvassing the possibility of a pre-season tour abroad by proactively raising their profile in Spain, his latest initiative involves World Cup winners.

Blackburn has spoken to two of Sir Alf Ramsey's wingless wonders', who lifted the iconic Jules Rimet trophy, regarding a photo opportunity for Avenue's fans.

"Bob has approached Jackie Charlton and Gordon Banks and asked them about coming down to Horsfall to meet our fans," explained Phillips.

"How often does that happen? A chance for some of the people who remember the club being in the Football League having the opportunity to have their picture taken with one of the 1966 heroes!

"The new fans we have been seeing down here are mainly young people but no doubt they will be aware of what Jackie and Gordon achieved. If they aren't then their dads have not been doing a good job."

  • Start or join a debate on this issue in our online forum - Click here