Confident City build for future

THE York City jigsaw continued to fall into place this week as the Minstermen's climb away from the relegation mire moved up a gear.

The fight against the drop is not over but three straight wins has certainly eased the club's plight.

City now have 40 points, already one more than Chester when they dropped into the Conference at the end of last season.

The season before, however, Scarborough went down with 48 points, so ten points from their last ten games starting against Lincoln this afternoon must surely remain City's target.

Clearly, given City's transfer dealings this week, the club is confident the battle will be won.

Players of the calibre of Chris Brass don't come to a club heading for the Conference when the likes of Rotherham and Northampton are touting for your services.

At 25, Brass's arrival further underlines Dolan's long-term planning, which the City chief admitted is "slowly coming to fruition".

With the likes of Mark Sertori, Kevin Hulme and Chris Fairclough leaving the club in recent weeks, Dolan is targeting a younger breed of Minstermen.

The City manager has made it clear his desire for a smaller, leaner squad, too, which can only spell good news for the club.

And with a number of other City players' contracts up at the end of the season, the revolving Bootham Crescent exit door will continue to spin.

Financially, it makes sense. City are not the paupers of Division Three but a wage bill that has broken the £1.5m million barrier still causes a sharp intake of breath when turnover stands at just over £600,000.

But on the pitch it makes sense too.

Competition is important but too many players with little chance of first-team football can breed only indifference.

A smaller squad also gives youth team players, the financial lifeblood of the club, a better chance to make the grade.

That in turn trickles down through the club.

As the trainees make the jump into the reserve and first team, so the under-16s step up into the under-19s, the under-15s into the under-16s and so on.

That can only help give their development a sharper edge, increase competition and help separate the wheat from the chaff.

CITY'S 3-1 win at Mansfield last week was recognised by Metro, the freebie newspaper available in many of Yorkshire's larger cities.

No fewer than four City players were named in their team of the week, with Terry Dolan crowned manager of the week.

More surprising, however, was the choice of City players and their respective positions.

Lee Bullock was 'picked' to play in goal, Marc Thompson, withdrawn at half-time against the Stags, was handed a central midfield role, while according to Metro Steve Agnew is a speedy left winger.

Gary Hobson was also included - despite playing only eight minutes at Field Mill as a second-half substitute!