BILLY McEwan has said he is happy to work without an assistant.

The new York City manager also added at last night's York Minstermen fans' forum that he did not feel it was necessary for the club's board to appoint a former footballer as a director.

McEwan feels that it would be inappropriate for him to have a full-time assistant considering the financial constraints the club are working under but he is hoping that he will be given permission to bring in one additional coach to help ease the burden.

Speaking at last night's KitKat Crescent Social Club event, attended by about 120 fans, the City boss said: "I don't think the club can afford to give me an assistant and why should I have one at York City in the Conference? I coach the team the way I want it to play and I don't want to stand and watch somebody else do my job.

"I would like to get another member of staff because I might want to watch players in afternoon reserve matches and I would have to leave training early. Then I would need somebody to step in who can develop and improve players and I need to trust the lad I get working with me to carry out my instructions."

The City boss also rejected the need for a former football professional to become part of the boardroom, saying: "Derby brought in a director of football to work with George Burley. It touches a bit of a nerve with me and I'm not a big advocate of that type of thing. I think the manager should pick the team and report back to the board himself.

"I can see the argument for it and Derek Dooley was my managing director and buffer between me and the board when I was Sheffield United manager at 33. It's sometimes useful to have a go-between but, at this level, you don't need it. Again, the club can't afford it for a start. I can tell the board directly rather than telling someone else to tell them."

While reticent to lose the reserve team next season, McEwan also understood the board's reason for making the decision.

He said: "To have a successful infrastructure in any organisation there has got to be continuity. In an ideal scenario, we would keep the reserves to bridge the massive jump between the youth team and first team but, if the board says we can't run one, I have to accept that and organise some friendly games."

York City are without a game this weekend as scheduled opponents Carlisle are in the fifth round of the FA Trophy.

City's next game is at home to Barnet on Tuesday, kick off 7.45pm.

York City's youth team are due to play Bury in the Football League Youth Alliance at the Wigginton Road training complex tomorrow, kick off 11am.

Updated: 10:31 Friday, February 25, 2005