BRADFORD (Park Avenue) manager Craig Elliott has only been in charge for a few weeks, but he has already had to deal with the loss of his captain Connor Dimaio.

But, ahead of his side’s trip to Ossett United in the FA Trophy second qualifying round this afternoon, Elliott insists he will not lose sleep over players who do not want to be at the club.

He told the T&A: “Initially coming in, I knew Matlock had put in seven days’ notice on him.

“Connor’s worked under me at Boston before, so I know he’s a good player, but Matlock are financially in a good place and made him an offer we couldn’t compete with.

“I don’t really worry about stuff like that too much, because if players don’t want to be here, you move on quickly, there’s no point dwelling on it.”

As for incomings, Elliott has pinpointed improved physicality as key to his side, with Avenue finding themselves constantly bullied, particularly from set pieces, over the last couple of years.

Avenue were all at sea in this 4-1 defeat at home to a powerful Liversedge side last month, and Craig Elliott wants to avoid any repeats of that.Avenue were all at sea in this 4-1 defeat at home to a powerful Liversedge side last month, and Craig Elliott wants to avoid any repeats of that. (Image: John Rhodes.)

They are already making steps towards that, with the signing of towering defensive midfielder Elie Ikwa this week, as well as former Bolton Wanderers centre half Mark Beevers, who will join the club subject to international clearance.

Elliott said: “Elie’s a big lad, and straightaway I could see this team needed more physicality and height.

“This league is a lot about both boxes in terms of having to deal with getting on the end of stuff, and you didn’t have to be a genius to look at our squad and see we had too many similar players.

“We’ve got a lot of young, technical lads in the squad, but hopefully Mark will give us the physicality and height we need, like Elie does.”

And it seems moulding a squad able to compete at the top end of the Northern Premier League East Division is the main aim for Elliott, which is largely behind his decision to bring in former Brighouse Town boss Vill Powell as his assistant.

Elliott, whose focus is purely on the first team rather than academy, on account of him having a full-time job, said: “Everything’s in place off the pitch, in terms of the facilities and people who are working at the club.

“But I’m here to sort out things on the pitch, which have to improve, and after what’s happened in the past, it needs changing around.

“I’ve been a manager for around 15 years, and I’ve always had a system to fit the certain level I’m managing at, as well as what’s needed at that certain club.

“I’ve not managed in the eighth tier for a long time, so I wanted somebody who knew things like the players, opposition and wages at this level.

Avenue are trying to get promoted from the eighth tier, but have only won two of their opening six league games, one of which was this 3-1 victory at Grimsby Borough.Avenue are trying to get promoted from the eighth tier, but have only won two of their opening six league games, one of which was this 3-1 victory at Grimsby Borough. (Image: John Rhodes.)

“Vill’s got a good reputation as a coach, having shown a lot of loyalty to Brighouse.

“He’s Yorkshire-based too, so he ticked all the boxes I needed and I’m happy to get him in.”

As for the Ossett game this weekend, Elliott said: “At the minute, we’re not a club who can pick and choose when we win, as there’s been no consistency for years here and we want to change that mentality.

“I don’t care what competition we’re in, we want to start winning matches regularly.

“I really want to kick on from the 28th, our next league game at home, which is the priority.

“But every game will be important to me and we’ll take all of them as seriously as we can.”