BILLY McEwan issued his team a reminder that many of them are playing for their footballing futures after the dismal 1-0 defeat at Tamworth.

With only Steve Davis, Chris Porter, Darren Dunning, Andy Bishop and Chris Brass contracted beyond the end of this season, McEwan will spend the remaining five weeks of the season making decisions on who should be offered new deals in the summer.

And the City boss admitted that certain players may need to impress him quickly.

He said: "I've been patient with them and I will be from now until the end of the season to give them a chance. I can't fault their effort and commitment but we needed more thought and quality against Tamworth.

"They are trying their best but there's a few running out of time. The ball is in their court but I am learning things every day."

McEwan issued an apology to supporters after a third successive defeat in which the Minstermen managed just two shots - both off target - against a very simplistic Tamworth side.

He also promised to create a more attractive team in the future, saying: "I was annoyed and disappointed because we did things in training and then decided to do different things in the match. We did not get hold of the ball and pass it.

"I want the players to be successful playing good football because all this nonsense about you can only play one way in the Conference is trash. We have got to improve our service to the strikers and it took us 19 minutes into the second half to string three passes together.

"We do passing drills in training so that can't be right. I want to produce footballers not rugby players who just want to punt it forward.

"I feel sorry for our travelling fans having spent their hard-earned cash following their team. The players have been made aware of that.

"I know they have heard it all before but I am appealing to the supporters for a bit of patience. I can't turn it around over night.

"It's like turning the QE2 around in the Atlantic. It will take time for us to start moving in the right direction.

"I'm under no illusions how tough this job is but I am fighting for the cause of York City Football Club. I'll probably be dead in the summer and I could just sit in the dugout with a cigar and not show any emotions but I want to win. I've always been a winner and the most important thing now is to keep this team in the Conference. That's my aim."

Leading scorer Bishop missed Saturday's match after being involved in a car accident last week.

He has suffered whiplash in his neck and back and was receiving treatment from a chiropractor at McEwan's former club Derby County today.

Paul Groves also dropped to the bench at Tamworth after missing a week's training because of jury service and he was back in court this morning as the trial continued.

Veteran Groves entered the action after half-time along with Lev Yalcin as Shaun Smith and Byron Webster were withdrawn and McEwan added: "Webster has done really well for us but he's tired."

Updated: 10:02 Monday, March 21, 2005