BRADFORD (Park Avenue) have appointed a new assistant manager following the departure of Vill Powell.

The former Brighouse boss only arrived at Horsfall as Craig Elliott’s number two around six weeks ago, but he has left after being appointed as first-team boss at Sheffield FC.

Sheffield play in the Northern Premier League East Division like Avenue, with the pair having already met in the league this season, the latter winning 2-1 against their South Yorkshire visitors in BD6.

And Elliott will take his side to play Powell’s for the reverse fixture on Saturday, January 25.

The Avenue boss has already publicly wished Powell in his role at Sheffield, and has wasted no time in bringing in a familiar face to assist him.

John McDermott was Elliott’s number two at Boston United, Matlock Town and Buxton, and he will now fulfil that role for a fourth time with Avenue.

As a player, McDermott was very much a one-club man, playing an incredible 754 games in all competitions for Grimsby Town between 1987 and 2007.

And he has proved to be a more than handy coach since retiring, with Elliott delighted to be working with him again.

The Avenue boss told the club website: "I am so happy to back working with Macca.

“He’s an outstanding coach and he’s got a wealth of experience in both his playing and management career at all levels.

“We had a lot of success working together at Boston United and Buxton in particular.

“Macca also knows (Avenue goalkeeper coach) Karl Lenaghan really well, so we now have a very strong team off the pitch to help continue the progression of this side."

McDermott will join Elliott in the dugout for the first time for Avenue’s league game at Newton Aycliffe this Saturday.

While Avenue sit sixth and are right in the promotion mix, Powell takes over a Sheffield side who sit bottom of the league.

He will be hoping to turn their fortunes around, starting this weekend at fellow strugglers Consett.