DAN BRADLEY wants to help Alfreton make amends for relegation and repay them for taking him back last summer.
The 24-year-old midfielder left the Reds in the last close season to sign for Barnet. He didn’t kick a ball for the Bees, however, after a misunderstanding over his living arrangements.
And Nicky Law’s Alfreton went on to drop out of Non-League‘s top flight last season on goal difference.
But despite interest from Vanarama National League Lincoln City, Bradley is staying put – and he’s on a mission.
Determined
“I get on really well with the gaffer and his assistant Russ O’Neill,” the England C international told The NLP.
“That’s one of the reasons why I wasn’t dead set on going. Lincoln was an option and I did think about it, but it wasn’t like I felt, ‘I’ve got to go’.
“It was a crap year at Alfreton last season, everyone will admit it – to go down on goal difference was tough.
“I’ve decided I’m staying. It might not happen, but it would be really nice if we could put it right.
“I had a long chat with the chairman – he’s been good to me. They went out of their way to bring me back.
“I didn’t want to jump ship. I was part of the relegation last year. It’s not nice to say it, but it is what it is. I want to rectify it before I’m out of contract or sign a new one.”
Bradley admits he lacked consistency last season as a general malaise fell over the club – but he’s determined to start leading from the front.
“If you compare it to the year before, when we just missed out on the play-offs, there weren’t enough strong characters in the dressing room last season,” he said.
“It’s not that we had bad characters, we didn’t have any horrible people. And that’s the thing, we didn’t have any horrible people.
“After the last two years that’s something I’ve learnt. I’d like to think over the next few years in my career I can become a leader. Sometimes you have to go through a season like we did to realise how important those characters are.”
Bradley is also hoping he will feel the benefits of a more settled off-season.
“Last summer wasn’t great and the summer before I thought I might get a move when it was probably too soon,” he said.
“This summer I’m content. I’ve just got married to Emily, I’m settled and I think it could play a big part.
“Everything off the pitch is going good – I even managed to get out for a few runs on my honeymoon!”
