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.