FORMER footballer Gary Gill has launched a legal battle for damages of more than £300,000 after his dreams of becoming a Premiership football coach were shattered in a fatal car crash.

Former Middlesbrough and Darlington midfielder Mr Gill suffered multiple injuries in the accident nearly three years ago - including a smashed left knee, a broken shoulder and fractured neck.

The 40-year-old spent two months in hospital recovering from his injuries, and will now need knee replacement operations every ten years for the rest of his life.

According to a High Court writ issued against the company that owned the van that was in collision with his car, Mr Gill can no longer work as a football coach.

Mr Gill, who is a football summariser for Radio Cleveland, blames Nottingham-based Bray Security Services for the accident on November 13, 2002.

According to the writ, the company has admitted liability for his injuries, but the two sides are unable to agree how much compensation Mr Gill should receive.

Judges at the High Court in London are being asked to decide the level of damages.

Mr Gill was discharged from hospital in a wheelchair after two months of treatment, after his girlfriend moved into his house to provided him with full-time care.

He hopes to win a lump sum award rather than periodical payments for his injuries, and says the main uncertainty in his claim is what he would have earned but for the accident.

Mr Gill, of Garden Close, Stokesley, North Yorkshire, said his predicted earnings would not become clearer with the passage of time.

A spokeswoman for Bray Security Services declined to comment on the case last night.

Van driver Gary Hutchinson, from Nottinghamshire, suffered multiple injuries in the crash and died at the scene.

An inquest two years ago heard that Mr Hutchinson's Mercedes Sprinter collided with Mr Gill's Audi A3 on the A67 between Darlington and Yarm.

A police accident expert said it appeared the van had taken a bend too quickly and slid into a car coming in the opposite direction before spinning and colliding with Mr Gill's car.

Mr Gill, who was part of the Darlington team that won the Conference and Fourth Division league titles in successive seasons in 1990 and 1991, also managed non-league Gateshead.

Last night, Mr Gill said: "I have left this matter in the hands of my solicitors and they are taking care of it.

"I would just like to get on with my life and put this behind me."