TRANSFER-LISTED striker Paul Robinson would still like to be a York City player next season.

Robinson's availability was circulated to other clubs at the end of last season despite the former Newcastle United forward still having one year of his contract left to run at KitKat Crescent.

As yet, he has only received a sniff of interest from prospective new employers and continues to harbour hopes that he can prove his worth to the Minstermen in 2005-06.

But Robinson, who once signed for Wimbledon in a £1.5million deal, added that he is unwilling to languish in City's reserve team.

He said: "I'd like to stay, of course I would. York supporters have been absolutely fantastic to me and I have had cards through the post with a lot saying they don't want me to leave so, if I get the chance, I would like to play next season.

"I have got a house and a wife and a year still left on my contract so if nobody comes in I will still be here.

"But, if time goes on and I'm not playing, I'm still only 26 and want to play as many games as I can. I've had a couple of sniffs here and there since being put on the list but nothing concrete.

"I don't want to stay anywhere where I'm not wanted though and I suppose I am keeping my fingers crossed that something will turn up."

Robinson admitted that he was disappointed to be put on the transfer-list but is trying not to mope over Billy McEwan's decision, saying: "I didn't perform this season as well as I maybe can and the manager now wants to bring his own people in.

"He told me he would have probably kept me if the club had gone up but we haven't and that's football."

Robinson joined City last summer from League One side Hartlepool where he had scored nine goals in 23 starts and was offered a six-month contract.

He still hopes to return to the Football League but only managed to find the net twice in 36 matches for the Minstermen and admits that the Conference was tougher than he expected.

He said: "A lot of players expected us to go up, myself included. I wouldn't have signed otherwise but it's a very hard league to get out of.

"We showed against Barnet and a few of the other top sides what we could do but then we went to places like Canvey Island, where we should have been winning, and got beat 4-0."

Robinson also refused to blame the lack of a prolonged run in his favoured centre-forward position for his below-par season with City.

He said: "I used to play on the right wing and, even though I prefer playing as a striker because I love scoring goals, as long as I get a starting shirt I don't mind where I play - except in goal."

Updated: 10:19 Saturday, June 04, 2005