IT does not appear that Dean Crowe will be welcomed back to Luton Town with open arms if, as expected, he ends his loan spell at Bootham Crescent today.

Crowe has struggled to make an impact during his one-month stay with the Minstermen and Chris Brass is unlikely to request an extension beyond today's trip to Scunthorpe.

But Luton are equally keen to keep Crowe off their wage bill with the FA preventing the club from exceeding a 20-strong first-team squad while they are in administrative receivership.

And it could be that former City goalkeeper Marlon Beresford could deal a blow to Crowe's return to Kenilworth Road.

Hatters' boss Mike Newell brought in Beresford, who had six games for City last term, from Bradford yesterday to alleviate the pressure on teenage stoppers Robert Beckwith and Dean Brill.

Said Newell: "We've got the problem that Dean Crowe's loan spell at York runs out and, if they don't extend it, he'll be back with us again."

Updated: 10:18 Saturday, October 25, 2003