WHAT a shambles. And worse, what an insult. I am of course referring to York City's performances of recent weeks.

The players are insulting the hard work put in to keep the club alive. We all know of the frantic, heart-stopping survival story only too well. But since the resurrection of the club and its home, we are now being treated to gutless performances. Their lack of commitment and effort is frightening and leading us towards the Conference door.

Only fleetingly and in far too few games have we seen any spark of effort from any quarter of the pitch.

Maybe the lack of money is a driving force, but it is of cold comfort for the fans who dig deep into their pockets in the hope of being entertained.

I am enough of a realist to know we cannot expect great things from such a bunch of lower league players, but the shameful lack of effort is inexcusable in any profession and downright suicide in a case like York's.

I hope the manager sees this opinion from a 40 years-long supporter. My voice was lost in the crowd of dissenters who groaned our discontent on Sunday as Macclesfield made us look even worse than they were, and that took some doing.

The season ticket which I purchased will not be renewed next season, I feel cheated by the playing staff who have been given every encouragement from the word go.

The club is being ruined from within, from the worst possible place, on the pitch. It is the place where the money is generated by being attractive to fans who wish to see quality competitive football, not the bash and hope system at present being used.

The ball is no good in the air gathering snow if when it comes back down it falls to the head of the opposition. Surely the lack of height in the side makes it obvious to use the fast flat and accurate passing moves which won us the first four games of the season.

For the sake of the hardworking Trust members, get yourselves sorted and give us some pride back.

If we must go down, then do so with honour and a few goals. A quick glance at the goals-for column tells the story, but only part of it, actual shots on goal each game is usually counted on one hand.

How any club can hope to do any good with such awful statistics in that quarter is well beyond me.

Jim Dawes,

Low Catton,

Stamford Bridge,

York.

Updated: 09:06 Wednesday, April 07, 2004