BILLY McEwan's first summer signing Mark Hotte is hoping that joining the Minstermen will boost his chances of returning to the Football League.

The 26-year-old centre back, who has been Scarborough Supporters' Club Player of the Year for the last two seasons, will put pen to paper at KitKat Crescent tomorrow and is counting on the club matching his personal ambition of leaving non-League football behind.

Hotte made his debut for Oldham Athletic at the age of 19 in the old second division and went on to make 74 appearances for the Boundary Park club before being told he was surplus to requirements by new manager Mick Wadsworth in January 2002.

Since then, he has spent the last three-and-a-half years at the McCain Stadium, where he captained the Seadogs to a 5-1 victory over City on Boxing Day.

But Hotte has decided to swap his North Yorkshire allegiance despite being offered a new 12-month deal by Scarborough chief Nick Henry and has been particularly impressed by McEwan's rebuilding plans this summer.

He said: "I decided to go with York because of the professional set-up and the manager being very positive about what he wants me to do. He wants to bring in a lot of younger lads who have still got some experience but are hungry to better themselves.

"He asked me what I wanted and I said to improve and get back into the League. He wants that hunger in his team. I've played in the League before and am only 26 and believe I can get back there.

"It was a bit of a shock when Mick Wadsworth told me he wanted to get rid of me at Oldham because I had played regularly from a young age under Andy Ritchie and still had one-and-a-half years of my contract left. As it happened, he (Wadsworth) didn't last long as manager and, if I had waited a bit, I still might be there but I wanted to play first-team not reserve football and Scarborough offered me a new challenge."

A poor showing in City's first Conference campaign has led to cautious expectations for next season at KitKat Crescent but Hotte believes a possible play-off bid should not be ruled out.

He said: "We were all surprised at Scarborough how York struggled but it was probably a season of adjustment. I know next season will also bring a new set of lads because not many players have been kept but I am hoping we can achieve more than the club did last season.

"I know the manager feels he is starting a long-term project to bring success to the club but he seems to be targeting the right sorts of players and I think we should be pushing for a play-off place because everybody in this division can aim for that as anybody can beat anybody."

Hotte, who can operate as a right or left back as well as in the centre of defence, also realises that Scarborough supporters are unlikely to welcome his summer switch, adding: "I imagine I will get a bit of stick even though I have left the club under good circumstances. The fans were good to me but you expect to get booed when you join their local rivals."

Harrogate Town have announced a pre-season friendly against City on Tuesday, July 26.

The match will be played at Wetherby Road and Conference North outfit Harrogate have also announced other home matches with Darlington (Thursday, July 14), Huddersfield Town (Tuesday, July 19) and a Leeds United XI (Tuesday, August 2).

Updated: 10:22 Thursday, June 02, 2005