TRANSFER-LISTED defender Steve Davis has left York City after agreeing a financial settlement for the remaining year of his contract.

Davis, 36, was made club captain last summer after signing for then City manager and former Burnley team-mate Chris Brass.

But the ex-Luton Town and Blackpool centre-back was sidelined by a hip injury for six months of a disappointing Conference campaign in which he managed just 14 Minstermen starts.

City boss Billy McEwan admitted that age and financial considerations were paramount in the decision to end Davis' stay at KitKat Crescent, saying: "We have reached an agreement with Steve Davis.

"He had another year to run but, in terms of pure economics, we can't afford him. It's as simple as that.

"He's been a good player throughout his career but also the situation we are in at York City means we are looking to bring in young boys. He was unlucky with injury last season and missed three-quarters of the season so I never saw him much.

"It's a sad decision in a way but one we had to make and we wish him well in the future."

Davis' departure means that former boss Brass is the only recognised centre-back currently on the KitKat Crescent books with any first-team experience.

But even Brass will be unavailable at the start of the season because of knee ligament damage and McEwan has already cast doubts on whether the club can continue to pay his wages.

From the other players who filled that position last season, Paul Groves, Sean Davies and Kyle Armstrong were released at the end of the campaign, while the contracts of Chris Clarke and Gary Pearson were both terminated by mutual agreement during the course of it.

On-loan defenders David McGurk and Lee Grant returned to Darlington and Aston Villa respectively and McEwan is yet to pursue an interest in last season's most successful temporary signing Jon Maloney, who is looking for new employers after being released by Doncaster Rovers.

A York City quiz, compiled by club historian David Batters, will be held next Thursday at KitKat Crescent Social Club.

There will be a variety of questions from City's past and present at the York Minstermen event.

The quiz starts at 8.30pm and entry is £1 per person for teams of up to four people. All City fans are welcome with the bar opening at 7.30pm.

A raffle to win a signed shirt, donated by Graeme Law, and a football, autographed by Alan Little's Wembley era team, will also take place.

Updated: 10:42 Thursday, May 26, 2005