Bamber Bridge boss targets FA Trophy run

Brig were forced to pull out of the FA Cup first qualifying round in September as a result of a positive Covid-19 test and suspension of all football activity for 14 days.

And the Brig boss sees the FA Trophy as an opportunity to get some funds into the club by advancing through the rounds.

He said: “In the FA Cup we had to withdraw because of the virus and we need to do well in this competition to raise some money for the club.

“The club have been brilliant – they’ve backed me as much as they can during the lockdown and during signings and they’ve helped me with my budget as much as they can.

“It would be good just to get a bit of money back into the club.”

Standing in their way tomorrow is a Radcliffe side who have won three out of their last five league games – including a 2-1 victory against Brig earlier this month – under manager Lee Fowler.

And Milligan, who featured alongside the former midfielder during their playing days, has urged Brig to play positively against a side that have been tough to beat in recent weeks.

He said: “They’re doing well lately and they’re flying. I’ve played with Lee at Fleetwood and he’s a really good lad.

“He’ll have them right up for it, they’ll try and stop us playing like they did last time, and it worked for them.

“But we’ve got to take some confidence from it, we’ve got to go and get at teams.

“It won’t change on Saturday – we won’t change the way we play. We’re going to keep attacking teams and hopefully we’ll get that win soon.”

Brig could count themselves unlucky not to pick up a positive result on Tuesday night at home to Gainsborough Trinity, with a solitary goal from visiting captain Simon Ainge the difference between the two sides.

Milligan handed league debuts to new signings Matthew Flynn and Luke Higham, whilst Matthew Thomson came off the bench for his second Brig debut.

The club also brought in Preston North End duo Mathew Hudson and Adam O’Reilly on loan last week – Milligan says he is thankful to North End for sanctioning both deals.

The Brig boss admits that injuries over the last month have had a detrimental effect, but says that the squad is now getting stronger and stronger.

He said: “It’s been hard this last month with games coming thick and fast, and the squad’s not been strong enough to get through these games. There’s been so many games in the period.

We’ve just been unlucky with isolation and injuries. Every club is going to be the same, you’ve just got to get through it, but it has killed us a little bit.

On the debutants, he continued: “Luke was at Blackpool, then he went to Australia for a bit and he’s come back.

“He’s not played a lot of football lately but he did well enough last night, and when he gets fitter he’ll be a good acquisition.

“It’s great to have young Thommo back as well, he’s a great lad to have around the place. He gives you energy, he gets up and down, and he’s just what we needed really.”

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