IN his City scene column in The Press (January 12), Dave Flett quotes former City player Pat Lally as saying (about Paul Aimson): "It surprises me he never played at a higher level because he would have done himself justice."

Thereby hangs a tale which has never before, to the best of my knowledge, been made public. Indeed Paul himself only found it out long after he had retired from the game following his serious leg injury, so serious that he awoke from a semi-conscious state in hospital to hear a priest intoning the last rites before the intervention of a doctor saved him.

Paul Aimson was a gifted player, and his ability was noted by Leeds United who made a bid of some £20,000, a fair sum in those days. The offer was turned down, as were subsequent bids of £25,000 and £30,000 as City realised his value.

Leeds then went out and bought Mick Jones from Sheffield United - the rest, as they say, is history.

It was a matter of great regret to Paul for he would have loved to have operated at a higher level.

Malcolm Huntington, Heslington, York.