IN a profession where length of service is measured more and more often in months rather than years, Asa Hartford has been soccer's exception to the rule.

For a full decade Hartford was a member of Manchester City's backroom team. He counted four managers in and three managers out during that period. He was the coach with stickability.

Shortly after the end of last season, that glue turned to water. Suddenly and unexpectedly, Hartford lost his grip on the job he cherished, when he was told by manager Stuart Pearce that his services at Eastlands were no longer required.

Most people would have felt bitter and aggrieved at being shown the exit door in those circumstances. Scotsman Asa is not most people.

"I have no axe to grind with Stuart," he insists. "There was no fall-out between him and myself. He's a new manager and he wants to run the club his way - which is exactly as it should be.

"Every manager when he takes over wants to bring his own people in, and that is perfectly understandable.

"I was a bit surprised to be told I was out of a job and it's a big wrench to be leaving City, because, if you take my time as a player, I've been associated with the club for 18 years - and that is a fair chunk of my working life.

"But I'm not bearing any grudges. I hope Stuart goes on to have a very successful career with City, and the same applies to my successor Steve Wigley."

For those of us no longer in the first flush of youth, it's a frightening reminder of how quickly time slips by when Hartford points out that it is 40 years ago since he left his native Scotland to join the apprentice ranks at West Bromwich Albion.

And it speaks volumes for his coaching ability, and the respect he commands throughout English football, that this is only the second time in all those years that he has been forced to seek fresh employment.

"I was 15 when I left Clydebank to join West Brom and I'll be 55 on my next birthday," he said.

"I don't know where the years have gone. But it's obviously true what they say: time flies by when you're enjoying yourself.

"The only other time I have been out of work was in the few months after I left Shrewsbury Town at the start of the 1990s.

"But I got taken on to the coaching staff at Blackburn Rovers when Don MacKay was in charge at Ewood Park, and when he left I worked under Kenny Dalglish.

"I joined my old Scottish team-mate Joe Jordan for a couple of years at Stoke City, and then I was brought to Maine Road by Alan Ball in 1995.

Coming home

"I had two spells with City as a player in the 1970s, and early 1980s, so it was like coming home when I got the call from Alan.

"Of all the clubs I have played for or worked for as a coach, City is the one which is closest to my heart.

"You don't have an association with any club for 18 years without becoming attached to it.

"But in management or coaching you cannot expect to be employed by one club until you reach pensionable age - particularly these days, when the demands for success seem to be greater with every passing season.

"When you work inside soccer you accept that it's a precarious occupation and that you could lose your job any minute, so I'm just grateful that I had 10 good years with City. I have been around professional football clubs since 1966 and I've built up a lot of contacts and friends inside the game down the years.

"I've been making a few phone calls since I was told I was no longer required by Stuart Pearce, but there have been no offers of work as yet.

"I want to stay in soccer in some capacity because I've been involved in the game since I was 15, and I'm a bit long in the tooth to do anything different.

"Primarily, I've worked as a coach since I hung up my boots, although I did have a spell as player-manager at Shrewsbury.

"I quite enjoyed that experience and I wouldn't mind having another crack at being a manager at a club in one of the lower divisions.

"But as long as I stay in professional football and I can have an input in the coaching of players, I'll go anywhere and do anything, because that's the only thing I know how to do after all these years.

"I've just got to find a way to pass the time while I'm waiting for the phone to ring because I'm sure a job will come along sooner or later. I could do a bit of gardening I suppose, but I'm not very green-fingered.

"It's a pity that I've always regarded golf as something that spoils a good walk.

"I could do with a hobby like that now that I've suddenly found myself with lots of spare time on my hands."

Were City right to release Hartford? Have your say.