NEW York City director Josh Easby insists he won't be pulling any punches in the Bootham Crescent boardroom - and has got the blessing of chairman Douglas Craig to fight his corner.

Ardent Minstermen fan Easby will realise a lifelong dream when he finally takes his seat on the board alongside Craig and his fellow directors Barry Swallow, Colin Webb and soon to retire John Quickfall.

Speaking to the Evening Press, the 47-year-old Easby said: "Short of playing at centre-forward, this is as good as it gets."

But while Easby will be taking some shares in the football club, he insists it is his opinions and communication skills that the board value more than cash.

"I do not think Douglas Craig will be embarrassed if I say one of the things he said on behalf of the board when he invited me to join was 'I want you to come along and argue with us'," said Easby.

"That is a very healthy attitude. Clubs needs different points of views and the directors are not afraid to look at things from different angles and have a good debate. If one of my skills turns out to be a willingness to disagree then that is healthy."

As reported in the Evening Press yesterday, Easby, a former Archbishop Holgate's Grammar School pupil, emigrated to New Zealand in 1970 to become a journalist and football columnist.

He will be looking to use his journalistic skills to aid the club's communications manager, James Richardson, in his revamping of the official City website.

"James has made a very good start and the site is already a zillion times better than the old one, but there are still areas we can improve on editorially," reasoned Easby.

Easby insists the 'There's Only One Arthur Bottom' e-mail newsletter, set-up in 1997 to give City fans across the globe regular updates of events at Bootham Crescent, will continue despite his new role, although the website of the same name will finish at the end of October.

"The newsletter is my primary passion and fans who want to sound-off and fire shots at the club will still be able to do so through the newsletter," he said.

"I have never voiced my opinion on Arthur but let others do that. I will still be the messenger but now I will have more ability to float answers back."

Acomb-born Easby also hopes to bring his considerable business expertise and experience to his new role. In New Zealand, he was chief executive of a newspaper group before joining the country's largest investment company, where he spent 13 years as a senior executive.

He was a director and executive of a number of businesses in industries as varied as media, food, financial services and plant hire. He remains a director in a number of New Zealand-based businesses.

He and his UK-born wife, Wendy, returned to England in 1999 and he is currently senior executive with the UK's largest commercial radio operator, GWR Group Plc.

He said: "I have got a firm business background and I would like to think I can bring some solid commercial skills to the table as well."