Nethermoor WILL host a pre-season friendly next week but instead of it being a derby against Bradford City on Tuesday, the Lions will now face Middlesbrough the following evening.

The newly-promoted Conference North outfit should have been hosting the Bantams in a friendly that is part of the FA tribunal settlement ruling on the move of striker James Hanson from Guiseley to City.

It was pencilled in for Tuesday but Bantams’ boss Peter Taylor pulled the plug on that date after failing to get his own way on a 7pm kick-off.

Taylor insisted his players needed that early kick- off if they were to be fresh enough for a morning training session the day after.

“The kick-off time was the issue, and that is a matter of fact, but we feel we have made our point over that now and wish to move on,” said Guiseley chairman Phil Rogerson.

“We still think it not in the spirit of the agreement and it will obviously cost us a lot of money. The game that is part of our compensation for James will now take place sometime after the season starts so will not have the same attendance that a pre-season game would have had.

“Still, Middlesbrough have been on our list from the start and we have been trying to find a date that was mutually acceptable. With the Bradford game off now, we can accommodate Middlesbrough on the Wednesday that they originally requested.

“It is not a case of Boro stepping in after we lost the Bradford game, just a case of us having a free midweek all of a sudden. Every cloud has a silver lining so we are very glad to be hosting Boro.

“They have no first-team fixture next week so Gordon Strachan has said he will be bringing a strong squad. There will be first-team players involved, so that should bring a crowd in and it will be a good game for our players and fans.

“It will be our first game, and Steve Kittrick is happy about it being against a Football League club. Most of our new signings will be on display, so our supporters will have the chance to have their first look at our improved squad.”