Bassett twice took charge of City, first between 2001-02 and then for a shorter, caretaker role in 2004. As a player, he made just 35 Football League appearances having played for Wycombe Wanderers, St Albans City and Wimbledon before retiring relatively early due to injury and business commitments.
He was soon appointed a coach at Wimbledon with Dario Gradi in charge of the club and he was promoted to first team manager following the departure of Gradi to Crystal Palace in January 1981. Bassett had an instant impact, taking charge with the Dons in ninth and seeing them to promotion to what was then the Third Division in his first season in charge. All-in-all, Bassett transformed Wimbledon as a club in the following five seasons, earning three promotions in four seasons to guide the club to the First Division - just nine years after entering the Football League.
Despite Wimbledon's rapid success, many in the media slammed Bassett's style of play - long, route one football that wasn't easy on the eye, but was certainly effective during his time with the Dons. But in the summer of 1987 Bassett felt he'd taken Wimbledon as far as he could and moved on to a short-live spell with Watford, and then Sheffield United. Unfortunately, this left him with the dubious honour of being involved with two relegated clubs in the same season. He did, however, take the Blades back up to the top flight at the first time of asking.
He had spells at Nottingham Forest and Barnsley before joining City in October 2001. He was charged with the task of keeping the Foxes in the Premier League and he made a decent start, only for a four-month winless run from December condemning the team to relegation and an end to their six-year stay in the top tier of English football.
Micky Adams was brought in as his assistant that season, with the promise that Bassett would move 'upstairs' and becoming the Director of Football at the end of the season. He did just that, but took charge on a caretaker basis in October 2004 following Adams' resignation. He drew all four matches in charge and left the club when Craig Levein was appointed manager. He went on to take assistant manager roles with Southampton and Leeds United.
