NEW York City boss Chris Brass is under no illusions about the job ahead following his appointment at Bootham Crescent.

The 27-year-old was initially approached to take over from Terry Dolan on Saturday morning and after a weekend's soul-searching and discussions with his family, Brass agreed to accept the post last night.

Brass, who becomes the youngest manager in the Football League for 50 years, will work alongside team-mate Lee Nogan, who has been handed the post of player-coach.

And despite many viewing the move as a brave decision by the City board, Brass remains unfazed and is relishing the chance to build on last season's team spirit to guide the Minstermen to a new successful era.

"I was surprised to find out on Friday that Terry (Dolan) was being relieved of his duties," Brass told the Evening Press. "The board approached me on Saturday to ask whether I was interested in the post. I was totally honest with them and said that I needed a few days to think it over.

"I went away over the weekend and spoke to my family about what it would entail and then I spoke to Lee about the plans and the future, what we could do and what we needed to ask the board.

"Everything on that front added up and we began discussions on Monday and came to an agreement last night.

"I'm under no illusions that it will difficult. The club have had to appoint from within and I am honoured that they have asked me. I am proud to be the manager of York City.

"Some people will see this as a bold move and it is, but I have always shown a maturity beyond my years, while people always question the date on my birth certificate.

"I have worked under a lot of good managers and hopefully some of their pluses will come out in my style. I have been judged as Chris Brass the player in the past, now I will be judged as Chris Brass the manager and I want to be known as a success. The play-offs and promotion have got to be our aim, but I'm fully away that it will be hard work.

"I know the workload will be two, three, fourfold what it was as a player, andI fully realise that it will demand more of my time, but I will throw myself into this 110 per cent. It is the way I have played the game and it is the way I will manage.

"I am determined to make this work. I know I will make mistakes along the way, but they will be honest mistakes and I will draw from these experiences. I'll be honest with the players because that is the way I have always liked to be treated."

Brass, who started his playing career at Burnley and had loan spells at Torquay and Halifax before moving to York, is hoping that the 'Dunkirk' spirit from last season will gel the squad together this term.

And Brass will sit down with the board to discuss the budget, so he can add the right players to complement what was achieved as the Minstermen last season reached the verge of the play-offs despite the months of financial uncertainty.

"Our team spirit was a key part of our success and if we can build on that then we have every chance of taking things one stage further," said Brass, who has already achieved his UEFA 'B' coaching qualification and is working towards his UEFA 'A' coaching badge. "The players I have inherited have a good spirit, Terry has left us the foundations and it is down to us to now build on this framework in our own way with the right players.

"I have a rough idea of what the budget will be, but I will need to sit down with the board and look at who I will be able to bring in."

Updated: 11:16 Wednesday, June 04, 2003