York City boss Chris Brass has held transfer talks with former Minstermen striker Paul Barnes.

The 36-year-old forward has been granted a free transfer by Division Three rivals Doncaster Rovers this week and City are one of a clutch of clubs to already express an interest in his availability.

Financial considerations could prevent Brass from joining the bidding for Barnes' services and the former Stoke City forward also begins a three-match ban on Saturday after his red card for tussling with City midfielder Matthew Coad in the recent reserve match at Doncaster.

Brass said: "I have spoken to Barney and there are a number of clubs interested in him. We just want him to keep us in the picture with what's happening and what kind of deal he's after.

"It's probably down to finances and whether we could get a package together but he has said he would be happy to come. He's on a decent contract at Doncaster until the end of the season and he might be looking for something beyond this year as well but there's no rush to do things yet because he is banned until after Christmas."

With any move for Barnes seemingly on hold, Brass has called on out-of-favour striker Liam George to prove he can score the goals that will fire York City back into the play-off frame.

George, 24, has not started a City game since September but reminded player-manager Brass of his talents with a well-taken goal for the reserves in Tuesday night's 2-1 defeat at Bradford City.

The former Luton striker has only netted twice in 17 first-team appearances since signing for City in the summer but could force his way back into Brass' plans if he proves his name could appear more regularly on the scoresheet.

Brass said: "He got a goal and that's what we want and are asking from him. We need one of our strikers to be a regular contributor of goals and he's staked his claim because he took his chance early and well at Bradford.

"We're looking to get more goals from him. He had a little dip in confidence and we were not scoring goals so I had to shake it up.

"He's had to take a step back but he's kept banging at my door and hopefully when he gets a chance he will take it."

Updated: 10:41 Friday, December 05, 2003