HARROGATE Town's former Leeds United and Darlington sentinel Neil Aspin has been primed for a new role. Evening Press sports reporter DAVE FLETT tunes in to how the defender is planning for the future...

IF York City were to perish at basement strugglers Darlington today, then Harrogate Town assistant manager Neil Aspin will have been pivotal to that downfall.

Aspin, aged 38, accepted an invitation to become Darlington's defensive coach by new Quakers' manager David Hodgson ahead of the Minstermen's historic first visit to Darlington's Reynolds Arena.

His new role will not affect the former Leeds United defender's duties at Station Road where he will continue to help manager John Reed with training and carry on playing for the UniBond League premier division club.

Aspin said: "Darlington are one of my former clubs and David Hodgson has asked me to work with the club's defenders.

"Everybody who has played professional football will tell you it's a big wrench when you come out and I have always said I would love to get back involved in some capacity.

"Darlington have asked our chairman Bill Fotherby's permission and he has said that it would be all right."

Former Leeds director Fotherby convinced Aspin to sign for Harrogate three years ago when his full-time career came to an end after a brief spell at Hartlepool.

Ex-Elland Road coach Mick Hennigan was manager at the time and Aspin still retains a fondness for his first club and is disturbed by its recent plight.

He said: "It's extremely sad to see what has happened at such a great club especially considering the position we were in a few years ago.

"It's absolutely disgusting and I feel really strongly about it.

"I have a lot of good friends who still pay good money to watch Leeds every week and for the club to have been mismanaged in such a way is disgraceful. It should not be allowed."

While Aspin's former clubs, Leeds and Darlington, are both fighting against relegation this season, his current side Harrogate are challenging for the UniBond League title and a possible place in the Nationwide Conference.

Town were lying third in the table before today's games but Aspin believes the championship could be a tall order, saying: "I've been here for three years and in that time the club has gone from strength to strength.

"We have gone from the first division of the UniBond League to establishing ourselves in the premier and we're not a million miles from the Conference now. I think it would be asking a lot to finish top.

"We came sixth last year and you always aim to finish higher and if we get a top-four finish then we will have done exceptionally well.

"The key to the club's future is moving ground.

"I work for Harrogate Town in the community but it's hard to establish things like that when you just have one pitch to work with. We need more facilities for youngsters."

Aspin has enjoyed working under Town manager John Reed but admits the two are not without their differences, saying: "We both have our opinions and fall out at times.

"We both say what we think and don't agree for the sake of agreeing and it's turned out well for the club."

The no-nonsense defender, who made 729 League and cup appearances in 19 years as a professional at Leeds, Port Vale, Darlington and Hartlepool, had considered hanging up his boots at the end of this season but has not ruled out carrying on longer.

He would, however, like his future to lie in coaching, saying: "I thought this season would be my last as a player and thought we had enough players for me not to play.

"But I have ended up playing quite a few times and if we play well when I am in the side and I justify a place then I will keep going but playing is not a priority for me now.

"I've got my coaching badge and Harrogate have given me a great chance because, as assistant manager, I've also got to look at things financially and operate within a budget."

Neil Aspin fact-file

Born: Gateshead, April 12, 1965.

Height: 6ft.

Weight: 13 stone.

Clubs and League appearances (plus goals)

Leeds United: 1981-1989 - 207 (5)

Port Vale: 1989-1999 - 348 (3)

Darlington: 1999-2000 - 50 (0)

Hartlepool: 2000-01 - 10 (0)

Football League debut: v Ipswich at Elland Road in 1982. Aspin was only 16 years old when he made his League baptism as the second youngest player then to have ever appeared for the Elland Road club. Up until then the youngest player had been Peter Lorimer.

Updated: 10:31 Saturday, December 06, 2003