I WAS amazed at the drift of TKO (Evening Press, Tuesday, May 10) in which Tony Kelly seemed to suggest that the success of Wigan Athletic in reaching the Premiership could inspire York City.

I quote "of course it helps to have a multi-millionaire backer". You bet your bottom dollar (or pound) it does.

Championship play-off rivals Ipswich Town and West Ham United have a justifiably high reputation for producing their own players. Ipswich won the FA Youth Cup this year and West Ham produced Joe Cole, Frank Lampard and Glen Johnson for Chelsea's Premiership winning side. No big money backers and, in Ipswich's case, not a big population base either.

Smaller still are Crewe who, again through an excellent youth policy, and counting the pennies, are a splendid example of how to survive among bigger clubs.

Ipswich, West Ham and Crewe are good, realistic role models for City to aim at and, unlike Wigan, they have their own history to draw on.

Unless City, like others, can find a fairy godfather Wigan's 'achievement' is a total irrelevance.

C Corbett,

Bull Lane,

Lawrence Street,

York.

Updated: 11:02 Tuesday, May 17, 2005