DEFENDER Scott Jones is thrilled to be back home' as he outlines to Evening Press Chief Sports Writer DAVE STANFORD

LIFE'S not so grim up north' for York City's returning hero Scott Jones.

The defender, who made a massive impression with the Minstermen faithful during a short-loan spell at the end of last season, is delighted to be back permanently and relishing the start of the new season.

As reported in the Evening Press this week, manager Terry Dolan finally got his man after weeks of intensive summer negotiations to sign Jones from Division Three rivals Bristol Rovers.

The Sheffield-born 27 year-old, who still had a year of his Pirates' contract to run, always insisted he wanted to return north after failing to settle at the Memorial Stadium.

But the longer the saga dragged on the more tense the situation became for the ex-Barnsley defender.

"It's great to be back in the north again," he enthused.

"I always felt things would happen at the York end but it was at the other end where there were a few problems.

"I had to get a few things sorted out down there but once I did it was always going to happen."

And while admitting that moving back up the country was always a priority, Jones also explained how signing for York City was always his main goal.

"I never gave a chance to looking for another northern club to be honest," he said.

"I said I wanted to come up north all along but I never put myself in the shop window.

"There were a couple of clubs sniffing around, or at least there were rumours.

"But I was quite happy to sign for York. This was always my first preference.

"I had a great time at the end of last season here and I was happy.

"And having had a bad time at Bristol I just wanted to be happy and enjoying my football again."

Now, with his future with Minstermen on a more secure footing, Jones admitted he was looking forward to being able to concentrate on playing, starting with this Saturday's Division Three opener away at Macclesfield Town.

Ironically, Moss Rose was where Jones made his full debut for City back in March, when the Minstermen went down 2-1 to the Silkmen.

That defeat was one of only two suffered by City in the eight games in which Jones featured and the left-sided defender admitted he would love to banish that memory with a victory on Saturday.

"We have to go into the game in a positive manner," he said.

"No doubt it will be a hot day but if we can pass the ball around then I'm sure we can win.

"No one knows who is going to be playing yet and there are quite a few centre-halves at the club now so there is plenty of competition for places.

"That is what clubs need - we know we have to be working hard and winning to get in the team and stay there."