Bradford (Park Avenue) icon retires but not wanting to coach

The pair, sacked by Avenue after almost seven unbroken years in charge in November 2023, took charge at Nethermoor last week.

Havern spent virtually his whole Avenue career under the pair, in two spells from 2017-19 and 2020-23, and he coached alongside them last year, then had a brief spell in interim charge when they were dismissed.

But the former centre back wants a clean break from that side of the game now, telling the T&A: "I speak to Mark and Danny a lot, as they're people I trust, and I'm happy they've both taken on the job at Guiseley.

"They gave so much to Avenue, but they were constrained financially, so this is a real opportunity for them to do something there.

Danny Boshell and Mark Bower on the touchline for Avenue on the opening day of the 2022-23 season. (Image: John Rhodes.)

"But I don't have any ambition to join them there, and I want time away from playing and coaching.

"If I didn't, I'd probably still be at Avenue now, but there's so much to coaching these days in terms of analysis and scouting.

"It was one of the main reasons I left Bradford in December, I just couldn't put the amount of time I wanted to into coaching alongside my full-time job, and the travel was a factor too."

Havern speaks fondly of his time at the club, saying: "I played with Bosh at Stockport and spent time with him at Altrincham, so we had a good relationship before I came to Bradford.

"I was team-mates with Nicky Clee at Altrincham too, but it wasn't just those two, it was a good group to be a part of in general in my first spell at Avenue.

"Those good couple of years where we reached the National League North play-offs twice were some of my best-ever memories in football.

"There were a few issues with finances, and I left for a season, but it was a simple choice to go back in 2020.

"It was a different experience, as suddenly I was one of the oldest lads and I took on the captaincy.

"But it was great to see so many young lads come though, and some have gone on to play at a higher level.

"We've even got Ollie (Arblaster) and Andre (Brooks), who were on loan here last season and are now playing regularly in the Premier League with Sheffield United."

Ollie Arblaster is only 20, but he captained Sheffield United on Saturday in their Premier League game at Newcastle United. (Image: PA.)

Avenue have just been relegated for a second successive season, which hurts Havern, even though his association with the club ended five months ago.

He said: "I'm glad I came back to Avenue for those last four years and it's the club I ended up spending most of my career at.

"You make friends with the people there, so you care about how things go.

"From where we were when I started playing there in 2017 to now, things are totally different.

"That's not aimed at anyone as a dig, the people in charge are doing what they can.

"But financially it's a tough world we're living in, and it puts clubs like Avenue that aren't blessed with money in a difficult spot.

"It was sad to see them go down again this season, but it's a chance for them to reset now, which I think is just what's needed."

If Avenue are a club who have been on the way down, Havern’s boyhood team Stockport are flying.

Bradford City were one of the few teams to avoid defeat against Stockport this season, as the Hatters ran away with the League Two title. (Image: Thomas Gadd.)

When Havern came through their academy and made his debut for them as a teenager, they were a solid Football League outfit.

But around the time he left, financial problems struck the Hatters, and they ended up spending 11 years in non-league.

Stockport, with some solid financial backing behind them, are seemingly leaving those days behind now, and won League Two this season to ensure a first campaign in the third tier since 2009-10.

Havern spent the last few months of his playing career helping out old friend Alex Frost at eighth tier Avro, pretty much going back to where it all began, with County just 12 miles further down the road.

Discussing his first footballing love, Havern said: “Stockport were in League One when I was there, but we were in administration in my final season.

“The managers knew what us young lads could do, as they’d been our youth team coaches too.

“I made my debut as an 18-year-old against Brentford in 2008 and scored the winner, but it was a couple of seasons later when I became more of a regular.

“I had four or five good years there, but it was in my last season where it was started to go wrong financially.

“It’s good to see them now back where they should be and I still have an in with them, as I help my dad out with stuff for them commercially, which I did a bit at Avenue too.”