VETERAN league midfielder Mark Patterson has been appointed Scarborough's new player-coach in a bid to save the basement conference outfit from relegation.

Patterson, 36, played for 17 years with five clubs, including Blackburn Rovers and Bolton Wanderers.

"Since joining Scarborough I have noticed a weakness in the defence. We have got to improve that if we are to get off the bottom of the conference", Patterson said.

But he admitted that missing the penalty against Northwich was "terrible". "I had an 80 pc success record in the Football League, including eight out of eight for Preston. But I made the cardinal mistake of changing my mind."

Meanwhile, the row over Scarborough playing an ineligible player in goalkeeper Mark Smith against Farnborough Town which the Seasiders won 1-0 rumbles on. Scarborough were docked three points by the conference board and now Farnborough want the game replayed. But the conference have rejected the call by Farnborough owner Graham Westley and agreed that Scarborough have the right to appeal against the axing of three points.

* Scarborough have signed 19-year-old striker Darren Connell on non-contract forms from Blackpool.

Updated: 10:20 Thursday, December 27, 2001