Daring gamble by new board

Brass has been a magnificent leader of the Minstermen on the pitch, but lacks any sort of managerial experience.

Furthermore, the traditional player-manager is usually seconded from the twilight of his career.

He may continue to play for a while, but more often than not when the twin pressures become too much and the demands of management hit home the boots are gradually edged closer to the dustbin.

Brass will be afforded no such option.

He is instrumental to City's defence and simply has to play next season if the Minstermen are to have any chance of success.

At 27, he is arguably reaching his peak as a player too.

It must be hoped the intensity and responsibility that management will bring will not impinge on his performances.

Brass will also have to cope with the obvious change in the relationship he currently enjoys with the remaining City squad.

The former Burnley ace has been more responsible than anyone for creating a unified team-spirit at Bootham Crescent.

Indeed, it was on his insistence that the squad, riven by cliques and splintered into separate changing rooms on his arrival from Turf Moor, all got changed together at the club's Wigginton Road training complex.

It was a simple but very effective change and visitors to the training ground could not have failed to notice the new-found camaraderie permeating the City ranks.

Now, he will have to distance himself from the banter of the dressing room as the responsibilities and decisions of management will dictate the boss and players are kept at a respectful arm's length.

However, such causes for concern also breed hope and optimism.

Brass is an intelligent, eloquent and thoughtful man and will be keenly aware of all the pressures and challenges that lie ahead.

The obvious financial constraints the club is currently facing can only make the very sizeable task even greater.

Adored by the City faithful, in the circumstances it would have been easy for Brass to decline the offer and subsequent hassles to concentrate solely on playing.

By accepting the gauntlet, he has already indicated drive, determination, ambition and confidence and must clearly fancy his chances of being a success.

His leadership skills are certainly not in question.

Terry Dolan achieved the plaudits for maintaining last season's united front as the club teetered on the brink of extinction.

But the influence of Brass was another less celebrated factor, as the City skipper was always on-hand to offer advice to his younger team-mates fearing for their careers amid the club's very uncertain future.

He is also approachable, passionate and enthusiastic, a genuine 'man of the people', and as such cuts the perfect figurehead as the club's new board of directors look to establish York City as a genuine community football club.

His assistant, Lee Nogan, will also provide a wealth of experience and contacts fostered by a career spanning more than 500 League games and ten clubs and including full international status.

Like Brass, Nogan is well-respected by his colleagues.

On more than one occasion Sunderland's Michael Proctor paid tribute to Nogan's wisdom and talent in ensuring his loan spell at Bootham Crescent was such a success.

It will be exactly those sort of skills City, with a relatively young and largely untested squad, will need to utilise in the coming months.

Although it is the closed-season, fans of York City shouldn't have long to wait before gaining an insight into the thinking and knowledge of the new management team.

With less than ten senior players on the books, Brass and Nogan's first task will be in attracting players to City and building a competitive squad.

How they wheeler-deal over the coming months should give a firm insight into their thoughts, plans and ability.

But that is for the future. In the here and now, today's appointments mark a brave move by the board, and by Brass in particular.

Supporters will be hoping the motto of 'he who dares wins' rings true.

Updated: 11:18 Wednesday, June 04, 2003