The Londoner, who recently turned 38, has only been in the Rockingham Road hot seat for 11 days, but already every minute of his working day –and a bit more besides – is catered for and he readily admits it's been a massive shock to the system.

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Used to putting his feet up in the afternoon as a player, Harper – hoping to cause a monster FA Cup shock against Leeds in front of a watching audience of millions on Sunday – now invariably finds himself office-bound and bombarded on the phone by agents, if he isn't out watching a game with his mobile hardly ever on silent even then.

There's also been considerable off-the-field matters to contend with
uncertainty surrounding the Blue Square Premier club's future came to light this week with chairman Imraan Ladak revealing that the club may be forced out of the borough of Kettering.

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Hardly ideal preparation for a big cup tie.

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It's certainly been a steep learning curve for the Poppies player-boss and stalwart keeper, who started his career at Premiership giants Arsenal behind the likes of David Seaman and Vince Bartram in the pecking order before moving to Queens Park Rangers, where he enjoyed four largely successful years.

Trying to keep together the better players in his squad – and bring a few recruits in as well ahead of the emergency loan deadline – has been the focus of most of his energies this week, along with preparing for Tuesday's home league clash with Hayes and Yeading.

And now there's the small matter of a massively high-profile televised second-round cup tie with the Whites and all the build-up that comes with it – weeks just don't get more frenetic.

Harper, who has seen lynchpin defender Exodus Geohaghan join up with former Poppies boss Mark Cooper at Peterborough on loan this week – with experienced striker Francis Green also departing for Oxford – said: "It's been an extreme change for me. I've played professionally since 1994 and the day-to-day running of a footballer's life is getting in at 9.30 or 10am and leaving by noon most days.

"You take yourself away from the ground and don't have an insight into what goes on there.

"So the first week or so has been a bit of a shock in terms of calls from agents about your players and them trying to get out of your club.

"We've a very small squad anyway and it's been an extreme baptism of fire, shall we say.

"It's been an experience, but probably a blessing for me to have that straight away – to get that understanding of what the job is all about.
"I'm still doing my (coaching) badges. I've not completed them all, but I am well on my way.

"I think what appealed to the chairman when he gave me the job was that I have worked with so many managers, such as Arsene Wenger, George Graham, Bruce Rioch, Gerry Francis and Ray Harford to name a few.

"I'll try and bring my own philosophy into it, although not tinker too much as we've been pretty successful up to now."

Harper's attentions are now – finally – focused on Leeds and despite spending all his 15-year professional career in the south and midlands, he could have landed his big break at Elland Road and not Highbury, if the fates had so conspired.

Harper was once on trial with the Whites many, many moons ago and while not exactly crossing swords with the club on a regular basis in his career, he does still know a bit about the current crop, with good mates Jason Crowe and Bradley Johnson– whom he played with at Northampton Town – both there.

Harper, who started his footballing journey at Kent non-leaguers Sittingbourne, said: "We know we are the underdogs against Leeds, who are a great club with great players and a good manager, who has done extremely well.

"I went on trial at Leeds before I signed for Arsenal in 1994. I trained for a few days when Howard Wilkinson was there and know about the stature of the club.

"I also played there in John Lukic's testimonial.

"We are not expected to get a win and the pressure will be on them. We've got to try and make it as difficult as we can for them.

"But they have got good players and a couple I have played with as well in Jason Crowe and Bradley Johnson, who are good lads.

"It's good to see them doing well.

"I've known Jason for a long time as we were at Arsenal together, although he's a bit younger than me. Bradley's a good player with a great left foot and I've always rated him.


"We are going to have to play at our best and hope they have an off day as well.

"But in Kettering's last three matches against football league teams that I've played in, we've won all three.

"So it gives us a little bit of hope, although Leeds are another step up. It will be difficult, but we'll be giving it a good shot.

"After turning over Hartlepool and a couple of league teams for Kettering, I'm sure Leeds will give us respect."

Being in the cup spotlight is nothing new to Harper and his Poppies team-mates with the club dispatching the likes of Lincoln City and Notts County before bowing out to Premier League Fulham in a televised fourth-round clash last season, with the Cottagers scraping through 4-2 after hitting two goals in the last two minutes.

Harper also tasted the magic of the cup in January 2004 when he lined up against Manchester United for former club Northampton in a glamour round-four clash at Sixfields and despite the Cobblers' 3-0 reverse, the keeper emerged from the game with his reputation enhanced.

He said: "Probably the best memory is when I played for Northampton against Manchester United.

"We ended up losing, but there was a spell when it was 0-0 and the first goal was really fortunate for them.

"I remember Ronaldo played and I saved a penalty in the first 10 minutes from (Diego) Forlan – everyone seemed to remember that.
"I've a lot of fond memories and people still come and ask me about it."