YORK City club secretary Nick Bassett has refuted claims from Harrogate Town boss Neil Aspin that the Conference North club were only informed about the recall of on-loan defender Chris Brass to KitKat Crescent by fax.

Bassett was keen to set the record straight after Aspin expressed his disappointment that the Minstermen had ended Brass' three-month loan spell at Wetherby Road prematurely without making a phone call.

Brass went on to sign on loan for Southport before last week's transfer deadline and Bassett said: "I made a phone call to Harrogate's secretary to say what we were doing and why.

"We apologised for the inconvenience and the fact that they were losing a good player but explained it was necessary because we have got to find him a club."

The draw for the first round proper of the FA Trophy, which will include City, was taking place today. Harrogate Town were knocked out on Saturday by Solihull.

Updated: 10:00 Monday, November 28, 2005