York City manager Billy McEwan believes that recruiting players from the Football League could be the key to success in the Nationwide Conference.

McEwan feels that players from a higher division will normally help teams get out of the one below, which is a philosophy the new City boss first encountered under the late, great Brian Clough.

Clough, then manager of Third Division Brighton, signed McEwan from Second Division Blackpool in 1974 with that purpose in mind.

Now his protg will look to do the same this summer as he bids to strengthen his squad and reverse fortunes at KitKat Crescent.

McEwan, speaking at last night's York Minstermen Fans' Forum, said: "Cloughie would say if you sign too many Conference players, you will end up in the Conference. When he was at Brighton, he got players like me from the Second Division to get them out of the Third. His philosophy was right but then he went off to manage Leeds for 44 days.

"It's true that certain League players can't handle the Conference. They find it too physical and a culture shock but if you get the right players to come out of the League it can work.

"It is a shame that Steve Davis has been injured because he would be able to handle it. If we brought too many Conference players in, that would not take us up. You have got to have a sprinkling of quality as well."

McEwan admits, however, that attracting players to Conference football at KitKat Crescent might not be an easy task.

The meticulous Scotsman has even been trawling the streets of York this week looking for suitable alternative training facilities, as well as scrubbing toilets to demonstrate to apprentices the standards of cleanliness he expects at the ground.

He is hoping work in both of those areas could make the club a more attractive proposition to would-be transfer targets, saying: "The biggest problem is trying to entice people to York while the club is in the Conference. I've got to be honest - it's quite difficult.

"You have a better chance as a League team but I am hoping that players I am interested in will come here because of me. We have to hope our persuasive powers and contacts can get them to come to the Conference.

"They know I have developed players like Malcolm Christie, Chris Riggott and Lee Carsley at Derby, as well as Shaun Goater, Clive Mendonca and Peter Beagrie in the past. Things like cleaning the place up will help because I think if health and safety had seen the place two weeks ago they would have shut us down."

McEwan added that it is his ambition to take City back into the Football League but warned that it might take time.

The former Sheffield United and Rotherham manager does not deal in empty promises or instant fixes but said: "We might need a bit of patience and perseverance but we want to try to be the best in the Conference. I don't know how long that will take but when the players go on the pitch they will represent me and you (the supporters) and they will have pride in wearing the badge.

"I want Conference Manager of the Month awards and to be successful. I have not come here to mess about and pick my money up. I have come to do my job which is to help get York City back into the League."

Updated: 10:32 Friday, February 25, 2005