FORMER Farsley Celtic manager Martin Haresign is the new boss of Harrogate Railway.

Haresign's appointment was made last night and he is expected to be joined at Station View by ex-Farsley coach John Deacey.

Leeds-based Haresign will take charge for tomorrow's Northern Counties East League premier division home clash with Goole.

Railway chairman Dennis Bentley said: "We laid out our budget to Martin. He was happy with it and has decided to take the job."

Haresign was appointed from a shortlist of four applicants, taking over from Dave Harrison, who, along with coaches Jamie Robertson and John Francis, left the club after Tuesday's 4-2 home defeat against Glasshoughton Welfare.

Harrison had taken the post at the start of this season from Paul Marshall, who unsuccessfully re-applied for his job after guiding Railway to the second round of the FA Cup for the first time in the club's history.

Railway chairman Dennis Bentley said: "I think you can say both parties were waiting for something to happen but we've gone nine matches without much success and are bottom of the league. He decided he would resign and felt he could not do the job any more. There were also different reasons that I am not at liberty to talk about.

"We took David and his team on with high hopes. Even though no club has a God-given right to be in the top five that's where we wanted to be at the end of the season because of the restructuring of the Unibond League and the introduction of the new Conference division.

"People were saying 'give him until Christmas' but that would mean we were halfway through the season and it would be far too late to change things around. We have not picked up a point at home all season and the supporters were getting a bit restless.

"We liked David very much, but he decided it would be best if he went."

Meanwhile, Harrogate Town boss John Reed has failed in his bid to bring in two Football League strikers ahead of tomorrow's trip to Radcliffe Borough.

Reed had hoped to bolster his attack by agreeing loan deals for Hull City's Clayton Donaldson and Steve Burton, who is on Doncaster Rovers' books. But both Division Three clubs have decided against the moves for the time being.

Donaldson spent a successful loan spell with Town in the UniBond premier division last season and has played for Scarborough on the same terms already this season.

Doncaster signed Burton from Ipswich but he has yet to play a League game this season.

Reed said: "I watched them both play in reserve games and, to be honest, I think they would be better off here because the football is more competitive. I spoke to the managers but they did not want to do anything but I will keep looking."

Scott Bonsall (ankle) and Robbie Whellans (knee) are still sidelined, but Michael Ord is fit again after completing 90 minutes for neighbours Harrogate Railway on Wednesday night.

Former Leeds defender Neil Aspin could be restored to the starting line-up while goalkeeper Ashley Connor is also fit again.

Pickering Town will be without injured midfielders Dean Macauley and Alex Willgrass for the NCEL premier division trip to Arnold Town. Kieron Darlow and Scott Emerson are the likely replacements.

Tadcaster Albion, second bottom in division one, face a tough test at home to leaders Long Eaton United. Goalkeeper Jamie Barford, who started the season at Winterton Rangers, is expected to re-sign for Tad in time to replace Adam Tasker, who is unavailable along with defenders Paul Jones and Jamie Vallans, midfielder Gavin Day and striker Mickey Amos.

Updated: 16:22 Friday, October 03, 2003