BRADFORD (Park Avenue) manager Craig Elliott does not think his side are among the Northern Premier League East Division elite just yet.
But he still feels they can go and win at the leaders today, Cleethorpes Town, knowing he has the players to be competitive in any game.
One will be new winger Iyrwah Gooden, a rare signing by Avenue for a fee, but another talented wideman, Oli Norman, is set to line up for Tadcaster Albion.
However, Elliott admitted to being slightly frustrated with Taddy for how that move has been presented online, given that Norman is still very much an Avenue player.
Discussing where he feels his side are at, three points outside of the play-offs after 17 games, with two draws and a defeat in their last three, Elliott said: “The last few weeks, we’ve come across teams at the top of the form guide.
“That’s just been about timing really, but as much as we’ve been doing well, I still feel we’re way off being a team who’s ready to be in the top three or four in this league.
“There’s still a lot of work to do, but that means it’s good to have played these top teams to see what we need.
“We’re not a million miles off, but you can see we need a bit more quality in the final third to turn some of these draws into wins.”
A trip to title favourites Cleethorpes this afternoon is therefore the ultimate acid test for Avenue to see where they are at.
Elliott said: “When I say we’re not quite there, I just know that final bit of the jigsaw is the hardest one, so we’re on the lookout for even more quality players.
“But we’ve still been very competitive in every game since I’ve been here and we want to be that this weekend.
“Cleethorpes will go on to win the league I imagine, they’ve been planning for it for a while and they have some really good attackers.
“But I’m really looking forward to this weekend, we’ve got good players who can go there and win the game, which is what we’ll be trying to do.”
Elliott has already spoken about how delighted he is to have brought in Gooden from Bury this week, but he also addressed the financial aspect of the signing with the T&A.
He said: “I like everything that’s happened behind the scenes since I came in and I’m here to try and make this club successful.
“It’s important the board are on the same path as me with that, and they are.
“I’m delighted to get Iyrwah over the line, but sometimes it actually works out financially better to sign a player for a fee who’s not on big wages.
“I could get someone in from National League North without paying a fee who actually ends up costing more.
“It’s about the whole package really and about balancing the books.”
As for the ‘outgoing’ Norman, Tadcaster’s wording suggests he has joined them permanently, but that is not the case.
Elliott explained: “Tadcaster haven’t worded it right as Oli’s still with us.
“He’s signed there on dual-registration (so will only play for Albion if not involved in Avenue’s matchday squad), so they should be clarifying that.
“Theo Hudson and Ewan Gregson are dual signed at Knaresborough Town and Campion respectively, so Oli’s done the same with Tadcaster.
“Oli’s had illness and injury over the last few weeks and he’s someone I like as a footballer, so it just felt like the right thing to send him out to Tadcaster for some games and to get up to speed.”
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