YORK City boss Chris Brass is hoping to put together a package that will lure former Crewe Alexandra captain Shaun Smith to Bootham Crescent.

Smith, who was a member of the Crewe team that lost at Wembley to City in the 1993 Division Three play-off final, played for the Minstermen in last night's 6-1 friendly defeat against Middlesbrough.

The 33-year-old left-back impressed before his 61st-minute substitution and, afterwards, Brass made it clear that he would like to add Smith to his squad on a permanent basis although financial considerations appear a potential stumbling block.

City's player-manager said: "I would like to tie up a deal with Shaun. We have to make sure it works within our budget but he showed his quality and the left side is an area I feel we need to improve in.

"You can't afford not to gamble on people who are proven and tried and tested. He's been the skipper at Crewe and, while it did not work out as he would have liked at Hull, everybody saw against Middlesbrough that he has quality.

"I am trying to get a deal that will be satisfactory for both parties. Things are tight but he's done well.

"He's not come in on trial for me. He's a good player who wanted to play for us. He's looked well in training as well and it's fingers crossed we will be able to come up with something."

Leeds-born defender Smith started his career at Halifax before spending 11 years under Dario Gradi at Crewe between 1991 and 2002.

He signed for Hull after leaving Gresty Road but only started 19 games in one-and-a-half years and was loaned out to Stockport and Carlisle before signing for Rochdale on a non-contract basis in March, playing 13 matches at the end of last season for the Spotland club.

Smith is a veteran of 527 League and cup games and has also scored 53 goals but is now available on a free transfer.

Former Cheltenham attacker Paul Brayson, who completed 90 minutes on the right wing as a City trialist against Middlesbrough last night, could also have enhanced his chances of a permanent deal at Bootham Crescent with Brass saying: "Paul did well. He needs to work a little bit and get his fitness levels up but he certainly has quality and can play in a number of positions.

"We have a few utility players but if we are carrying a smaller squad you need to ask one or two to play in different positions."

Ex-Grimsby forward Jonny Rowan failed to have the same impact against Middlesbrough as he did on his first game as a City trialist against Doncaster but Brass is ready to give him another chance, saying: "It did not quite come off for Jonny as he would have liked but you have to consider the quality of opposition. He's still an honest, hard-working lad and he's got something that will make us have another look and keep monitoring."

Former Scarborough winger Tom Raw has left City after his brief trial but goalkeepers Paul Crichton and Craig Mawson, as well as defenders Richard Teesdale, Mark Robertson and Paul Dunn, could get another run- out against Sheffield Wednesday on Saturday.

Updated: 10:49 Thursday, July 22, 2004