SCARBOROUGH Athletic manager Steve Kittrick feared a second tragedy had hit the club this season when assistant-player/manager Chris Bolder collapsed during last weekend's victory over Mossley, writes Ian Appleyard.

Former Grimsby Town midfielder Bolder, 34, had been struggling to breath when he was stretchered off the pitch shortly before half time at Seel Park.

He is now recovering at home but has decided to hang up his boots on medical advice.

Only two months ago, Boro were rocked by the death of chairman David Holland after a short battle against illness.

Kittrick said: "We lost the chairman not a month ago and when someone goes down with chest pains you fear the worst. He had chest pains, the side of his face had gone numb, and his lips had gone numb."

Bolder, who started his career in the youth team at Hull City, also played for Ossett Town, North Ferriby United, and Guiseley before moving to Scarborough three years ago.

Confirming his decision to retire with immediate effect, Bolder said: "It is difficult because I have really been enjoying my football but I have a family, so you have to be sensible.

"I have a history of high blood pressure. I've been on tablets for it since the age of 27. I knew that I had to be careful with sport but, since I was diagnosed, the doctors had got it under control.

"I missed one of my tablets at the end of last week and that could have been something that affected me," he added. "But, I've been told that I can't play at this level of football anymore. When you get a warning like that you have to act on it."

Goals from Cameron Murray and Benny Igiehom secured a 2-0 victory for Boro who are now seventh in the Evo-Stik First Division North and two points adrift of the play-off zone with four games to play.

This Saturday, they play host to bottom-of-the-table Burscough (3pm).

Manager Kittrick said: "We are playing well at the moment and digging in for each other. In the play-offs, there is always one team that sneaks in, that's not expected and we could be that team."

Whitby Town's play-off push suffered a knock last week when they could only manage back-to-back draws against Stafford Rangers and Coalville Town.

Chris Hardy's men have now dropped to sixth in the Evo-Stik League Premier Division, two points adrift of the play-off zone. They have five more games to play starting with Saturday's trip to Corby Town. Next Tuesday, they are away to Mickleover Sports.