The board at Bradford Park Avenue are hoping the early confirmation that John Deacey and his assistant Mark Hume will be at the helm again next season will ensure the current squad stick together.

Deacey returned midway through the campaign and led the side to a second consecutive play-off place. It was another heartbreaking end as Avenue were beaten but it proved the manager’s credentials.

“John is a fantastic manager and with Humey they make a great team, just look how they turned our season around,” said director Kevin Hainsworth.

“We have the squad in place now and had we had the management pairing and the squad they assembled at the start of last season then I think we would have gone close with FC Halifax Town.

“I said to John when he came back to us that possibly the play-offs were already out of reach. He wouldn’t have any of it.

“He was right and just one under-par performance cost us another play-off final.

“The pair of them have made it clear they are committed to the club and we are all working on next season together. The players have all drifted off for their family holidays but before they went, we said we want them all back with the addition of two or three new faces to strengthen.”

The Bradford club have been knocking on the door of the Conference North for two years now, finishing second and third. Hainsworth is confident they will be ready for another attempt although competition will be fierce.

“Guiseley just beat us to the title the season before last and they reached the play-off final in the Conference North last season so that shows you just how good you have to be to get that number one spot.

“Halifax won the one just ended and they won it by a mile. It was rumoured that their budget was twice what ours was and even if you push the boat out and match it there is still only one club that goes up automatically.

“Chester will be in our division next season and they are still well supported from their Football League days so will be on a good financial footing.

“FC United of Manchester stayed with us after losing the play-off final at Colwyn Bay, so that is already two really strong title contenders.

“We (the board) here at Bradford are all in it for the long haul and we will do everything we can to provide for John and Humey.

“The key will be keeping the squad together but everyone is geared up ready to try again.

“Hopefully we can do it without the lottery of the play-offs this time but we’ll wait and see.

“We wouldn’t be Avenue if we didn’t do it the hard way, would we?”