TOWN'S youth team coach Viv Busby is battling against a rare form of leukaemia.

The 51-year-old is very much in the thoughts of new boss Andy King who has pledged there is still an important part for his friend to play in the future of the club.

King said: "He has acute leukaemia a rare form which is curable. We both had colds in the summer. We couldn't lose it. We were coming home one day and he was spitting blood. It was a shock because he is the youngest 51-year-old I know."

Busby visited the doctor and was subsequently diagnosed with the condition.

The Town chief said: "I keep in touch on a regular basis. I would like to state the job's open for the boy to come back. Let's just hope it's sooner rather than later."

The youth coach is being treated in Sheffield, near his family home.

King praised chairman Terry Brady for his handling of Busby's condition.

"The chairman has been magnificent. He's very much a family-orientated man himself. We will stand by him," he said.

King has also promised to examine the structure within the club after being announced as the successor to former boss Colin Todd.

He said the workload would be shifted about to cope with the absence of the youth team coach.

The illness put matters into perspective, said the new boss.

"I'm sitting here talking about the job and three points and Viv's had this illness," he said. "It puts everything into place."