WHEN Luca Havern called time on his short spell as interim head coach at Bradford Park Avenue before Christmas, he was phoned by a friend.
On the line was Avro boss Alex Frost, who was quick to remind his old teammate of a promise he made to finish his playing career under his management.
“Luca broke my heart last summer so it was personal!” Frost told The NLP with a wry smile. “He said he’d sign for us only to change his mind and stay put after he was offered a coaching role.”
Havern – a hugely popular figure at the Horsfall in two spells with Avenue – admitted he could not envisage continuing at the club without manager Mark Bower and assistant Danny Boshell following their sacking in November.
The pair left Bradford in the Northern Premier League Premier Division’s bottom four with just two wins to their name and at risk of a second successive relegation after dropping down from National League North last season.
Havern stood in temporarily as caretaker. “I did contemplate retiring,” said the 35-year-old.
“But I think Alex had already filled in the signing-on form and so I had no choice. To be fair, I had given him my word.”
Denne historien er fra February 04, 2024-utgaven av The Non-League Football Paper.
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Denne historien er fra February 04, 2024-utgaven av The Non-League Football Paper.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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ENSIGN TEEN IS TAYLOR MADE!
WHITE Ensign boss Aaron Bloxham has hailed teenage talent Taylor Jacobi after his stoppage-time winner created history.
RAMADAN A RHYTHM IS BACK IN AT BLUES!
CEMAL RAMADAN reckons Bury Town have got back into their rhythm- but knows the Isthmian North title race is going to be a long haul.
DECRUZ IS SINGING THE BLUES FOR DREAM TIE
MERSTHAM manager Jamie Decruz says it would be \"crazy\" not to stage his side's glamour FA Youth Cup tie with Chelsea anywhere other than Stamford Bridge.
GLASSBOYS'JORDAAN IS A SCROOGE FOR BUCKS!
STOURBRIDGE snatched a dramatic stoppage time equaliser to seal a share of the points following a pulsating contest with promotion rivals Telford.
CLINICAL CALLUM HITS THE BULLSEYE
DARTFORD their D place in the play-off places as a 79th-minute goal from Callum Jones gave Adrian Pennock's side all three points.
ARDLEY'S OFF TO A WINNER!
NEAL Ardley got off to a winning start as Woking boss with victory over play-off chasing Altrincham and then admitted the Robins have set the mantra he would like the Cards to follow.
MADINE'S A MARVEL AT POOLS
GARY Madine's third goal in a Hartlepool United shirt fired his team to within two points of the National League play-offs after a dramatic victory over Yeovil Town.
BEES RATTLED BY TOP TOWN
BARNET slipped behind York City at the top of the National League after they were held to a draw by FC Halifax Town - a result thoroughly deserved by the Shaymen who battled for the whole game and gave the Bees barely a sight of goal.
Rovers denied by resilient Shots
DISAPPOINTED Steve Cotterill believes that his side had enough chances to beat Aldershot Town after dropping two points in their title quest.
KEEPER JOS REVELS AS GOAL HERO
IF you think goalkeepers never score, you must be Bark-ing mad.
