Ex-Huddersfield Town defender joins Harrogate Railway as Ashforth releases Cameron Lyn

Harrogate Railway have signed former Huddersfield Town defender Nathaniel Pells but explosive winger Cameron Lyn has been released by boss Lee Ashforth.
Cameron Lyn in his final appearance for Harrogate Railway (Photo: Caught Light Photography)Cameron Lyn in his final appearance for Harrogate Railway (Photo: Caught Light Photography)
Cameron Lyn in his final appearance for Harrogate Railway (Photo: Caught Light Photography)

Pells has joined Station View on a dual registration with neighbours Harrogate Town and will head straight into the Railway squad for Saturday’s FA Cup preliminary round tie against Spennymoor.

Ashforth will be hoping Pells can add steel to a defence which has conceded nine goals in its last two matches, including a dispiriting 6-0 loss at home to Scarborough Athletic on Monday evening.

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The boss said: “After the game against Scarborough, I just felt we needed something extra

“I don’t think we need to panic by a long shot, but I just felt we needed to bring someone else in, especially with the injuries to Lawrence Hunter and Si Parkes, and Mike Morris still returning from his long lay off.

“Jason Mycoe also picked up a little bit of a knock and has had a few travel issues, so that’s four of the defence carrying a knock of some kind.

“Nath is a very similar player to Harry Coates, who we brought in from Harrogate Town last year.

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“Like Harry, we will look to nurture him and get him first team football.”

Lee Ashforth, right, and assistant Simon Wood (Photo: Caught Light Photography)Lee Ashforth, right, and assistant Simon Wood (Photo: Caught Light Photography)
Lee Ashforth, right, and assistant Simon Wood (Photo: Caught Light Photography)

Lyn’s shock exit came on Tuesday evening after Ashforth decided the former Sheffield United winger was no longer in his long term plans.

The talented midfielder had started three of Railway’s four league matches in Evo-Stik Division One North, creating their opening goal of the season for Vincent Dhesi.

But he was substituted midway through the second half against Scarborough and Ashforth, who took over from Billy Miller as Railway boss in May, questioned his defensive capabilities.

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“Cam is a really good player, there’s no doubt about that, but I didn’t think he was giving enough defensively, and it made it awkward to find a place in the team for him.

He didn’t fit into what we wanted. A lot of the team will be selected on the quality of how well we can defend. We need to be hard to beat this season.

“He’s too much of an attacking midfielder to fit into what we want to play.

“It was probably my first major decision as manager and my first difficult phone conversation to have.

“I don’t want to stand in his way of being a success and I’m sure he will find another club, most likely at this level, very soon.”

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