Bradford Park Avenue boss John Deacey was very disappointed to see his counterpart at City lose his job but accepts ‘The King is dead long live the King’ changeover.

Someone has to leave the hot seat before it is filled by another incumbent and life goes on. Deacey was upset that Stuart McCall did not fulfil the hopes and dreams of the Bantams faithful but is looking forward to renewing acquaintances with Peter Taylor.

“I think Stuart was unlucky - he is a great bloke with an unrivalled knowledge of the game,” said Deacey.

“I always enjoyed dealing with him, and the thing that came across most was his genuine honesty and love of the game. Probably his love for Bradford City was more apparent than anything else.

“I did think Lee Sinnott might apply and, to my mind, would have been in with a great shout of landing the job. He was on the short-list for it when Stuart was appointed and it would have been easy for me if Lee had replaced Stuart.”

As manager of Avenue, it is in Deacey’s interests to have a close relationship with their Football League neighbours. He enjoyed that with McCall in charge and would certainly have continued it with Sinnott.

The former Bantams and Huddersfield Town defender was Farsley Celtic manager when Deacey was his second in command.

However, once Sinnott was head-hunted by Port Vale, it was Deacey who took over during Farsley’s one season in the Conference League.

“I have been in the opposite dug out to Peter Taylor and he said we (Farsley) were the better side when he brought his team to our place,” added Deacey.

“He was the manager of Stevenage at the time and I look forward to reminding him of that. It was a very cold night and the surface was freezing but it was a good game that finished goalless.

“It was great when Stuart was at Valley Parade, and I hope that Bradford’s two main clubs can still have a strong relationship now Peter is there. A good link will do neither of us any harm and I’m sure will benefit both parties.

“Stuart was always ready to loan us a player to give them match fitness or help their development by giving them regular competitive football. Let us hope that Peter feels the same.

“With Stuart at City, he already knew how I treat players and that I do like to encourage them to play proper football. That is what I’m all about and I want Peter to be aware of that like his predecessor was.”