Players past and present pay tribute to Aspin
FORMER Harrogate Town defender Michael Ord feels the departure of manager Neil Aspin can only be detrimental to any future success at the club.
Ord who played alongside Aspin in the heart of the Town defence during the boss’s player/coach days believes Aspin’s proposed exit could cause a “downward spiral” at the club after years of consistent success at Wetherby Road.
The ex-Halifax Town man, who was heavily involved in Town’s UniBond League Division One championship winning season in 2001-02-is now playing his football for Sorrento in the Western Australian Premier League.
Despite the distance he still keeps tabs on Town’s results and admits this season has made for difficult reading with high profile players leaving after the whole squad was placed on the transfer list.
However Ord feels the prospect of losing Aspin will hit the club hardest in the long run as they start preparing for the 2009/10 season in Blue Square North after missing out on a play-off place this term.
“My dad sends me over the Harrogate Advertiser and the Non League Paper every week and when I read the story about Neil leaving I was gutted,” said Ord speaking from his home in Australia.
“I loved my time at Harrogate Town and loved working with Neil. Bill Fotherby was a champion, Mick Hennigan was a champion and Neil Aspin was a champion.
“John Reed was a fantastic man-to-man manager who made you believe you could do it but it was Neil Aspin who was the tactical one.
“He taught me so much when I was there and I’ve only got the utmost respect for the man. I think it can only be a bad thing for the club him leaving.
“Losing him I feel will only be a slippery slope for the side.
“I can only see it being a downward spiral if he leaves,.
“He’s been here for seven or eight years now and I think him leaving will spell the end of the club moving forward. I’m sad to see him go.”
Town wrap up their season tomorrow with a trip to Gainsborough Trinity where they’ll run into former left back Nathan Peat (3pm ko).
They come into the contest on the back of Saturday’s 1-1 draw at home to Droylsden and Tuesday’s 2-1 defeat at Redditch United.
Nicky Gray grabbed his third goal in the last three games against Droylsden, while on Tuesday Redditch took the lead through Jack Byrne on 23 minutes with Aspin sent off in the aftermath after contesting the goal.
Dan Broadbent then levelled for Town after 31 minutes, before Ryan Beswick scored United’s winner in the 66th.
“I hope Town finish the season well,” continued Ord.
“I always look out for their results and my old club Halifax to see how they’re doing too. It looks like Town’s team will change at the end of the season and it will be interesting to see who comes in.
“A new manager will probably come in and bring his own players and ideas so we will have to see.”
Meanwhile club captain Denny Ingram and assistant skipper Darren Dunning are looking forward to probably their last games in a Town shirt in tomorrow’s season finale.
Ingram is seeking a victory against Gainsborough to wipe away Tuesday’s 2-1 defeat at Redditch.
“We need to finish on a high,” he said. “Both teams haven’t got anything to play for but we’ll be playing for personal pride. There’s still a football match to be won.”
Dunning is looking forward to meeting up with old teammate Nathan Peat and has willed the side to go out and win for Aspin.
“We’re definitely looking for a better performance,” he said.
“Obviously it will be nice to win the game for the manager too. He’s been at Harrogate for quite a few years but that’s the thing with football, people move on.
“The manager feels like he needs a new challenge to get his teeth into. It’s been a pleasure working with Neil and he’s probably one the best managers I’ve worked under.
“He doesn’t beat around the bush. He’s honest with you if you have a bad game and that’s a good thing.”
As for his future, Dunning expects this to be his last game in Town colours with the squad likely to change dramatically before the start of the 2009/10 season.
“I’ll be leaving at the end of the season I think. Where I’ll go next though I’m not too sure,” he said.
Blue Square NorthPPts
Tamworth 41 84
Gateshead 41 79
Southport 41 76
AFC Telford 41 75
Alfreton Town 41 74
Droylsden 41 68
Stalybridge 41 67
Harrogate Town 41 61
Fleetwood Town 41 59
Hinckley Utd 41 57
Vauxhall Motors 41 53
Workington 41 51
Redditch 41 50
Solihull Moors 41 49
Gainsborough 41 47
Blyth Spartans 41 46
King's Lynn 41 45
Stafford Rangers 41 45
Farsley Celtic 41 44
Hyde 41 39
Burscough 41 36
Hucknall 41 27
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Weather for Harrogate
Saturday 04 February 2012
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