YORK City have been buoyed by the news defender Scott Jones is not facing a suspension.

After picking up his fifth booking of the season in last Saturday's 2-1 defeat at Rushden & Diamonds, it was feared the former Barnsley player would face an automatic one-match ban.

However, although Jones has picked up five bookings his yellow card at Nene Park came on March 1 and so benefited from a Football Association 'amnesty'.

Players who are booked for the fifth time after the end of February escape a ban and are simply warned as to their future conduct.

The news means Jones will be available for City's Division Three clash with Bournemouth at Bootham Crescent on March 15.

Updated: 11:55 Thursday, March 06, 2003