A BOLD push for a place in the Nationwide First Division was endorsed by City boss Chris Brass.

He was responding to the statement by club director Jason McGill - the man mainly responsible for Project Gold which has successfully provided a long-term solution to the club's "preferred option" of continuing playing football at Bootham Crescent - that the club's aim is to play entertaining First Division football.

Brass believed that to be a realistic goal, saying: "That's where we want to be and that's where potentially this club can get. It hasn't happened over night but we are here to stay now.

"A long-term plan was set in place over the summer discussing how we envisaged things would happen.

"We have taken one major step along the way and it's history-making stuff but I'm sure there will be more history to write in the future.

"Jason has made that statement because that's how far he wants the club to go and believes we can go."

The City player-manager has also told club director McGill to 'step forward and take the limelight'.

Heralding City's fledgling board for matching his ambitions. Brass has heaped particular praise on McGill.

He said: "Jason McGill has been a key player. He has his own business and must have lost so many business hours to make sure this project succeeds.

"He's someone that hides away and deserves to step forward and take the limelight now and I'm sure he will continue to play a key role in the club's future.

"When I took the job I knew there was a great deal of hard work going into the number one priority which was to secure our stay at Bootham Crescent. I have seen how hard the board has worked behind the scenes and they have matched mine and Lee Nogan's ambitions for the club.

"When we were appointed we did not want to be pawns and asked as a cost-cutting exercise but they assured us of their plans and ambitions.

"We knew it was not going to be easy in the first 12 months but we knew how hard they were working to make things happen and I do not think they get the credit they deserve sometimes. Fans just turn up for matches and see the results sometimes and don't see the hard work done day in, day out to make sure things progress."

Updated: 11:14 Wednesday, February 04, 2004