A WARNING has gone out to football hooligans: Do not think York will be a soft touch when the city's football club drops out of the league.

Paul Maloney, York police football liaison officer, said there would be no let-up in the campaign to stamp out match-day violence.

He said policing of football matches would continue on a game-by-game basis, with advance intelligence gathered on each set of fans and a decision taken on the number of police officers, and type of police resources, needed.

PC Maloney said: "Our response will be tied to the intelligence we receive."

City's relegation is virtually sealed, with the team needing a mathematical miracle to stay in Division Three. If York do go down, the Nationwide Conference is almost certain to see the club reunited with local rivals Scarbor-ough and near-neighbours Halifax.

PC Maloney said: "Scarborough is the biggest game. We have had intelligence that some of the Scarborough fans have been in the away end at the last couple of their home fixtures, they will be looking to renew old acquaintances.

"There has been disorder between York and Scarborough in the past, we are well aware there could be future conflict between the two groups and will certainly be looking at that fixture.

"There is a little bit of history between York and Halifax, though not to a significant degree. In the past we have had to put out extra resources to make sure public order was maintained."

Shrewsbury Town, a team known for having a small, but active, hooligan following, are currently in one of the Conference league's promotion play-off places.

Just under a year ago, Shrewsbury supporters stopped off in York on their way back from a game in the North-East and attacked City fans in a Goodramgate pub.

A man was taken to hospital with head injuries after being glassed.

Carlisle United also needs a miracle to escape relegation from Division Three and some of their fans have been involved in violent incidents with City supporters.

Earlier this year, four Carlisle fans were jailed for a total of almost five years after trouble flared at Bootham Crescent in 2002.

PC Maloney added: "We will monitor things closely throughout the season. We are well aware that non-league football does not necessarily mean no football violence."

The worst incident in York this season occurred last November, when Doncaster Rovers were the visiting team. There was sporadic violence all day, with pub landlords forced to shut up shop. Nine fans were arrested and 90 police officers were on duty.

Updated: 10:39 Wednesday, April 28, 2004