HARD tackling Gateshead midfielder Andy Ferrell believes if former club Harriers had kept hold of last season's squad, then they would be right in the mix for the Blue Square Premier play-offs this time around.

Ferrell was one of a number of players, including Mark Creighton, Russ Penn, Martin Brittain, Justin Richards and Adam Bartlett, who moved on in the summer as the Aggborough outfit slashed their budget.

That group had defied expectations in the 2008-09 campaign to make the third round of the FA Cup and finish sixth in the table, frustratingly one point outside the play-off places.

Geordie Ferrell, who moved to York in the summer and then joined Gateshead in January for a £3,500 fee, is still in contact with a host of old teammates from his two years in Worcestershire.

He said: "None of us wanted to go but the club had to sell.

"The team we had last season was really special. We missed out on play-offs by a point and I think this season we would have definitely been in the top five.

"I'm still in contact with Mark Creighton and Mark Yates and we had a great spirit.

"I speak to Darryl Knights, Dean Coleman and Martin Riley now and again and I know Harriers' new manager is ambitious.

"My two years at Harriers were some of the best of my career. They should be a league club, they have the facilities and just need the team to do the job."

The former Newcastle and Hereford midfield marauder is enjoying being only a relative stone's throw, six miles, away from to North Eastern outfit.

He admits that it has taken a while for him to adjust to Gatehead's part-time status, but is relishing the captain's role.

Harriers' opponents are still in need of points to stay up in their first season in the Football Conference Premier but have lost just once at the International Stadium in the last six games.

Ferrell said: "I don't think the ground is going to help Harriers, it's a big stadium, with the stands far away from the pitch and it can be a bit quiet when there's not a lot of fans.

"The club found the Conference even harder than they first anticipated but we're still in with a good chance to remain in it. I think four points will be enough to keep us up.

"I found it difficult at first to cope with being part-time, I've been used to getting up in the morning and training. It's taken a while to adjust but I now do boxing and it has settled down.

"From next season the club are going full-time, so it will be different and they have big plans. The chairman is backing the manager 100 per cent."

Former Harriers wideman Martin Brittain is back in training after his horrendous double leg break but might not be ready to play a part in Saturday's game.

Another ex-Harrier Gavin Hurren, who is living with Ferrell and his parents, may also play some part as he in on loan from AFC Telford.

Harriers manager Steve Burr will have to assess what injuries he has after last night's 1-0 league defeat at Barrow.

Chris McPhee, who missed the game through illness, Brian Smikle and John Finnigan could all come into the side.

Winger David McDermott looks set to miss the match at Gateshead. He was stretchered off last night after a heavy challenge in Cumbria.

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