Harrogate squad transfer-listed

Harrogate Town transfer-listed their entire squad after Saturday's 1-0 home defeat by Blue Square North promotion play-off rivals Stalybridge Celtic.

Manager Neil Aspin told BBC Radio York: "I've spoken to the players after the game... and they've all been informed that they are available for transfer."

On Tuesday Aspin revealed the players had been asked to take a pay cut after a planned ground move broke down.

Town have also slipped out of the play-off zone within the last fortnight.

The club's dramatic move appears to be rooted in a long-term desire to stay financially secure and has little or nothing to do with the display against Stalybridge.

Aspin's admittedly small squad are thought to be on good money for Blue Square North and the triple blows of poor home crowds, fading play-off hopes and the collapse of a possible move to Harrogate Rugby Union Club's Claro Road ground has provoked tough decisions.

"This is my fifth year in charge and I don't think I've had one player who's asked to leave," Aspin added.

"Let's wait and see if we get offers for players (and) if they're going to be accepted.

"It's quite possible that there could be changes over the next few weeks... we'll have to wait and see, but at the end of the day decisions like that will be out of my hands.

"There's obviously players that I wouldn't want to leave to club, but in this difficult time it might be that that decision is taken away from me."

"It's not going to be possible to go on with the current circumstances where one person, who's the chairman [Bill Fotherby], is putting money into the club, and that can't continue.

"My job is to stabilize the club. I work with whatever players I have available."