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Home work's the key for Aspin
Busy driving up and down the country working for an employment agency – Neil Aspin would have had a fair case for laying off football management for a bit.
He stood down only on Saturday as Harrogate Town manager and three days later the lure of working close to home in Yorkshire saw him as the new boss of FC Halifax Town.
Following seven-and-a-half years at Wetherby Road – now the CNG Stadium – Aspin announced his decision to leave Town earlier this month, the manager not satisfied with the proposed budget for next season.
The 44-year-old Knaresborough resident always intended to take his managerial career onwards and upwards but a temporary time out must have been tempting considering his hectic lifestyle.
Grabbing even five minutes with the former Leeds United ace in office hours can be verging on the impossible – Aspin jaunting up and down the country through his profession while dealing with the rigours and phone calls of non-league management.
Aspin admits juggling the two roles can be difficult but the former defender is preparing to do it all over again at FC Halifax Town.
"To be honest, if it wasn't in Yorkshire I couldn't take the job," said Aspin.
"With me working as well and football being part time and the time restrictions and everything else, the job had to be in Yorkshire.
"I work for an employment agency and travel around the country.
"I have an office in Wakefield but I travel and in some ways it is time-consuming.
"I have never missed any matches because I have always been able to fit in work with the football.
"It's not a problem but it would be if the club I was at was not in Yorkshire."
Aspin's appointment will raise eyebrows in non-league circles – not least because the ex-Harrogate boss is dropping down two divisions to join the Shaymen.
for the odd point here and there Aspin could have been plying his trade in the Blue Square Premier as Harrogate Town manager, but the Tynesider has no qualms about dropping two divisions for such a well-supported club.
"Obviously, it is a big decision to drop down two leagues," said Aspin. "I am taking a drop down in terms of league status but not in terms of club status because Halifax are a much bigger club than Harrogate.
"Being a big club doesn't mean that you get results and we must do so to get back up the league. It will certainly be a lot tougher than people think."
Aspin's footballing switch across Yorkshire has been so swift that the Gateshead-born manager has had little time to reflect on four-and-a-half years in his first managerial role in non-league football.
He is adamant that there has been no fall-out with chairman Bill Fotherby or any board members and leaves with his head high after turning Town into a leading Blue Square North force.
Under Aspin, Town three times missed the play-offs in the final week and in their one appearance they were ousted by Stafford Rangers in 2005-06.
The manager also took Town to the FA Cup first round where they suffered a dramatic loss on penalties to Torquay United but analysing the highs and lows it is another FA Cup game that hurts the most.
"Definitely a low point was losing at Harrogate Railway," said Aspin. "It was a game when we were doing well in the league and I think losing that game really affected everybody.
"You try not to let it affect you but it was a big blow and to see them go on and do well in the cup, it was difficult because it was a game we should have won.
"for the cup game against Torquay the ground was full – I never thought I'd see that with people queueing outside. that was a really nice occasion.
"It's disappointing that we have never managed to get promotion but for the size of the club and for all the obstacles that you have managing at Harrogate I think we have had a good go in the years I have been there."
Aspin also hopes his first job in management has gained him experience for the tasks ahead with first up the mission to take FC Halifax from the depths of UniBond's Division One North and up the non-league pyramid.
Aspin admits he is far from the finished article and feels that costly at Harrogate was his insistence that they attempt to play aesthetically-pleasing passing football.
Expect the former Port Vale star to switch his attention to grinding out results more at The Shay.
"I think that at times we have tried to play too much football," said Aspin when asked of any regrets at Town.
"We have had good footballers at the club and we have always tried to play football but I think, especially this season, when you look at a lot of the goals we have conceded, they probably came from trying to play too much football in our half.
"At times I think we could probably have been a bit more physical, got it up there and played a bit more direct.
"That has been our downfall at times – we have tried to overplay.
"You are definitely learning all the time, there's no doubt about that and you always look back and realise that there have been times and situations where you might have done things differently."
Season 2009-10 will bring a different club for Aspin but there will be no change in his busy lifestyle juggling two roles.
Thankfully, Aspin has Sundays to unwind – the manager favouring a stroll in the country rather than an afternoon with Sky Sports.
But the new Halifax boss knows his days of rest will only prove enjoyable should he succeed at The Shay.
"I don't get any spare time apart from on Sunday," added Aspin.
"On Sunday I like to try and get out in the fresh air.
"You try and switch off as when your phone is going all the time with work and football it can be very time consuming.
"It's all worth it if you are winning and things are going right but the other side of the coin is that when you are not winning it becomes very difficult.
"You've got to be successful so you can enjoy the job."
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Saturday 26 May 2012
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