ANDY KING will not rush into choosing a new assistant manager after seeing his best friend snapped up by Rotherham United.

The Town boss feels the Millers have appointed the right man for the job although his delight for Harford is tinged with regret that the pair's partnership proved to be such a short one.

Alan Reeves will fill the breach for the time being but King is unlikely to look at a permanent successor until the summer.

Harford headed north with King's best wishes and a ringing endorsement.

The Town manager said: "To me they've made the right choice. Mick had to take the job.

"Rotherham are very ambitious and progressive.

"Next year they'll have a much larger budget than me, have players who have just come down from a higher division, they'll be one of the favourites to go back up.

"It's a very, very good opportunity. They don't come along too often."

Although delighted for his friend, King admits to mixed emotions with Town no longer benefiting from Harford's skills.

He said: "Of course there's regrets. I think he's been tremendous here.

"He's been a presence here and a brought a tempo to the training.

"It's been great to have my mate here and I think he will be very successful in his new job .

"As I said, you're just a little bit selfish in that you don't want to lose him.

"It just sums the season up. It's one thing after another. You have those years. Some people have those years and get relegated. We won't have that it's just we haven't had the year we want."

Reeves and Ian Woan will take on greater coaching responsibilities once again and King is at pains to point out that the pair's contribution should not be overlooked.

He said: "Woany and Reevesy were involved when we got manager of the month award for February."

As for Harford's successor though, King is going to take his time before making a decision.

He said: "I won't jump at anything and I'm sure the club won't want to pay anyone through the summer anyway. I'll think about it, talk to people but there's been no thoughts or discussions about where we're going next."

King, Reeves and Woan are now left to concentrate on ending the season on a high note.

Defeat at Hartlepool, combined with midweek results, leaves Town facing a mammoth task to reach the play-offs.

The manager is not afraid to concede that.

He said: "I think it is very, very difficult now, not impossible though.

"We've got to win the next two home games, that's imperative. After that we'll look at the situation again."