THE players of York City are to get their Christmas pay-packets early this year, in stark contrast to the events of 12 months ago.

This time last year the players' November wages had not been paid while the Professional Footballers' Association stepped into the breach in December to make sure the squad did not go without over the festive period.

As a gesture of thanks to the players, City have decided to make sure the players will get their December wages early this season, before Christmas Day.

City finance director Terry Doyle said: "We are all conscious of the appalling time it must have been for the players over Christmas last year.

"We have taken a decision as a board that we will make a gesture to ensure their December wages will be in their bank accounts before Christmas.

"We have made enormous steps towards running this football club on a sound and prudent financial basis. "We are all determined to see no repeat of last year's nightmare and hope that this gesture will be seen firstly as a thank you to the players and secondly as a public gesture as to the great strides forward made at York City Football Club."

Updated: 09:49 Saturday, November 29, 2003