YORK City chief Chris Brass is facing some hard choices but admits he couldn't be happier despite his managerial debut ending in defeat.

A 5-0 beating by Sunderland at Bootham Crescent last night suggested a baptism of fire for the new player-boss in his first game since taking charge.

However, Brass was more than happy with his team's first pre-season outing and admits the performances of six trialists have given him much to ponder.

Goalkeeper Steve Croudson, full-back Gareth Evans, centre-back Andrew Jordan, midfielder Darren Dunning and strikers Liam George and Aaron Wilford all played at least 50 minutes before a flurry of second half substitutions.

Over the next 48 hours Brass will sit down with his backroom staff to work out just who of the six he would like to retain.

Some may even be offered deals before the club head off to their training camp at Keele University on Friday, while others could travel to Staffordshire still on trial.

"The trialists have shown they want to stay in League football and I have to be happy with that," said Brass. "They showed a lot of promise, especially early on when we got the ball down and passed it and tried to play it right.

"Now I have to sit down and assess the situation and make sure they are going to benefit me and the team and I think one or two of them will.

"There might not be any concrete decisions but I will be chatting to them and seeing where we are at with one or two of them. If I can tie a few deals up this week then so be it."

Ex-Sunderland and Irish under-21 international Stephen Capper did not play in last night's game, watched by a crowd of more than 3,000, but remains on trial. Former Huddersfield Town striker Ian Lawson could also still be heading to York for his trial spell soon.

And Brass revealed even more trialists could yet arrive at City ahead of next Wednesday's game with Leeds United.

With Marlon Beresford having failed a medical the City chief admitted an experienced shot-stopper remained high on his shopping list.

"I think Marlon would have brought a lot to the squad but we have to crack on and fortunately we didn't close doors on people.

"We're in talks with a few people and so hopefully we can bring that experience in that I think we need. We are constantly looking but some of the other people we are looking at are at other clubs on trial at the moment."

City made ten changes in total and finished the match with seven trainees, including 16-year-old Andrew Green, on the pitch.

Brass was delighted he was able to give so many members of the club's youth team a run out against Sunderland's ex-Premiership stars.

"When you think of all the youngsters we had involved and when you think how things could progress it is quite exciting," enthused Brass.

"They are the future of this football club so it was nice to give them a taste of what it is all about. I think we showed character and we kept on trying to do the right things. We didn't just launch it and we didn't hide.

Updated: 11:06 Thursday, July 17, 2003