I really appreciate the opportunity to speak to the fans directly and I am really looking forward to answering your questions in the upcoming on-line question and answer session I will be doing in conjunction with the Press soon.

No date has been set yet, but I'm expecting a busy evening when it does happen.

It is always good to get feedback from the supporters, who have given the club tremendous backing so far.

Hopefully, given our decent start to the season, the feedback will be more positive than negative.

Certainly, a lot has changed at York City since the last time I was asked to pen a column.

The Supporters' Trust have taken over and the threat of the club folding has been lifted. The future for York City certainly looks a lot brighter.

Personally, I have made the move from just being a player to being player-manager.

It not so much a transition as a giant leap, but it is a challenge I am enjoying immensely.

Certainly, the days are longer and the difference in my time is perhaps the biggest change.

As a player, I never really switched off from football but after finishing training at midday it was back home to rest.

Sometimes you might do a bit extra in the gym or stay behind after training but other than that your day was your own.

As a player, with a match to prepare for, doing as little as possible was actually the aim.

Now, it's a 24-7 job and if, as a player you were sometimes left wondering how to fill your time, it is certainly not the case now.

Even if I'm not at the club, I'm constantly thinking about what happened in the last game, thinking about players and dealing with agents.

Talking with agents has settled down a bit from when I initially took over. Back then, I had to switch the phone off at times so I could get some work done.

A lot of it comes down to planning your week in detail, knowing when you've got games to go and watch, and planning for the upcoming opposition.

As a player you would often come up against opposition not knowing a lot about all the players.

As a manager you have to make sure your players are very aware who they are up against, without making them too concerned about who they are facing.

It is a balancing act too, knowing when to throw teacups, so to speak, and when to take a calmer approach and making sure the players are aware of the standards I expect to be met.

Of course, I am still playing as well, which can make things more difficult.

I did perhaps find it easier when I was on the sidelines earlier in the season because you do see an awful lot more from there.

But it is starting to settle down a bit now and ultimately I've decided out on the pitch I've got to concentrate on my own job and trust the others to perform.

I've picked them, and I wouldn't have done that if I didn't think they were up to it.

I'm giving them more responsibility and it was good to see more players cajoling or dishing out a few ticking-offs when they were needed on Saturday, when I think we were at our most vocal.

It is a bit of a juggling act then, but I've really enjoyed the transition.

Even after the three defeats I was still enjoying it. That was significant and a big bonus for me.

I knew when I took the job there would be testing times but until you actually face them then you never know whether it will prove too much or how you will handle the pressure.

I actually enjoyed the test and the challenge and adapted accordingly and, thankfully, we have all, not just me, dug in and come through it.

Of course, we are not the finished article and it is still a big learning curve for me.

But when we hit a similar sticky patch again then we know we can handle it.

Updated: 10:10 Thursday, September 25, 2003