FORMER Swindon Town assistant manager Mick Harford is battling prostate cancer, his current club Luton Town has announced.

The 62-year-old - who served under good friend Andy King at the County Ground between February and April 2005 - will start a course of radiotherapy treatment in mid-August which will keep him away from Kenilworth Road.

Harford was diagnosed with cancer in December 2020 but continued to work with the Hatters through the Covid-19 pandemic.

Former Swindon Town head groundsman Marcus Cassidy reflected on his time at the club alongside Harford, calling him "an absolute gentleman" in a post on Twitter.

Cassidy said: "I remember when me and Kingy wasn’t getting on he sent Mick out to sort me out, and he was an absolute gentleman. Bloody scary though. Both a pair of ledges. RIP Kingy and get well soon Mick."

Speaking to Luton's website, Harford told the club’s supporters: “What I want is to raise awareness and encourage other men to go and get themselves checked out.

“That’s what I did and it’s not something that we are good at, us middle-aged and older men.

“We don’t like to talk about illness or go to the doctor, because we think we might be wasting their time, especially in the current climate with Covid. It is so vital not to think like that.

The early symptoms of prostate cancer aren’t always noticeable, which is why it is so important to go to your GP and get checked out.

“I know a few people at the football club who have gone and done so since I was first diagnosed, and if our wonderful supporters can do one thing for me, it is to do exactly that, because early diagnosis is so crucial.

“I’ve been on hormone medication treatment for several months, but I now need to have a course of radiotherapy, at UCLH in London, where my oncology team have been brilliant with me.

“I’m really happy with the treatment I’m receiving, albeit it’s going to be a long journey which means I won’t be around on a daily basis at the training ground, which as everyone knows, is what I love doing."