York City's board will meet with Viv Busby this week after the caretaker manager offered to step down following Saturday's 3-0 FA Trophy defeat at Burton Albion.

Busby admitted he felt he could not work any harder to instill consistency into his team and told club officials to look for a new face if they felt it was the right time.

But should City's directors accept Busby's resignation a change in manager is unlikely to happen before Saturday's home match with Morecambe as interviews are likely to be held to find the right candidate.

Communications director Sophie McGill was unable to comment on Busby's position before she consulted all of her fellow board members but she said: "The board are aware of Viv's comments and we will be discussing the matter further with him."

No date has yet been fixed for the board to meet Busby.

City have won two, drawn two and lost six of their ten matches since Busby took over the managerial reins from Chris Brass in November but Saturday's Trophy exit was City's fifth defeat in six games and the former Sunderland, Everton and Sheffield United coach said afterwards: "The board will not be happy with that result.

"We could have had a nice little cup run and gained a chance to generate a few quid which the club needs but the team's performances are like a stripper's knickers - they are up one week then down the next. I can't do anything more than what I am doing during the week.

"All the players have to do is give their all for the club for 90 minutes on a Saturday but, if they aren't going to do it for me, then I will have to talk to the board and offer to step aside and let somebody else have a go.

"Performances like that for York City are not good enough. The players have got to realise this club could go straight through the Conference.

"I'm only here as a caretaker. I would like to stay and turn things round but I think it's only fair that I say to the board that they may need to get a fresh face in to give themselves a chance.

"I've done as much as I can. If they want me to stay I will do and will keep working at it. I've got all the enthusiasm in the world but the board must be really disappointed with that second-half performance. We are so inconsistent it's frightening."

City trailed to a Barry Miller goal at half-time but Burton added two futher goals from ex-Minsterman Jon Shaw and on-loan Walsall midfielder Kris Taylor in the second half and could have added more as the visitors once again capitulated on their travels.

Busby hauled off strikers Andy Bishop and Paul Robinson after an hour and admitted he was disappointed with both players' performances, saying: "They weren't good enough. They did not get hold of the ball in the first half and I told them at half-time they had another ten minutes to improve.

"They did a little bit better but with the other two lads on the bench and, with it being 1-0 at the time, I decided to make the changes."

Teenage midfielder Byron Webster also hobbled out of the action at the break but his twisted ankle is expected to clear up in time for him to face Morecambe.

Barnet's 1-0 victory over Farnborough on Saturday means City's home clash against the Bees, scheduled for February 5, will now be postponed as the Conference leaders will be in FA Trophy fourth round action.

Updated: 10:32 Monday, January 17, 2005