HAVING witnessed yet another dire York City performance on Tuesday night, against bottom of the table Carlisle, I would like to express my frustration and bitter disappointment at the standard of football being served up by Terry Dolan and his team.

We are now in a worse position that when Dolan joined us last year, despite the many changes in personnel, and are the joint lowest goal scorers in the division.

For City to be struggling along with the likes of Carlisle and Exeter, even though we are probably one of the more financially sound clubs in the bottom half of the table, and are therefore able to pay transfer fees and 'high' wages is a terrible indictment of Dolan's abilities as a coach and motivator.

For once chairman Douglas Craig cannot be criticised for his support of the manager, and must be equally alarmed and frustrated at the perilous position we are in, although the haste at which Dolan was appointed last year does now look to be a mistake.

I see very little evidence that Dolan actually knows what he wants to achieve or that he is making any progress at all.

We have had various formations throughout the season, which have made little if any difference to the performance of the team.

We play strikers as defenders and forwards as defenders (although to his credit Colin Alcide is probably a lot better at the back, than up front), even five strikers in the one match, all to no avail.

As a season ticket holder for many years, and a dedicated York City supporter, I fear the worst for my club and doubt that we would recover from a fall into the Nationwide Conference.

Val Duggan,

Holgate,

York

HAVING been a previous season ticket holder at York City, it is no surprise that supporters are staying away given the current performances.

Although the current squad is not the worst in York's history, the performances certainly are.

Terry Dolan maintains he is building the right squad, but I personally feel that he is simply making it worse.

City have been an absolute embarrassment as a club this season and changes are needed to prevent us getting relegated.

The fact that we have given away our top goalscorer from the past two seasons - Barry Conlon - and our top goalscorer from this season David McNiven is sometimes kept out of the team by Mark Sertori is simply a laughing matter.

The FA Cup run may have brought some light relief, but it is the everyday games in the league that are the problem.

The fact is we can't even beat teams as poor as Exeter away, and Macclesfield at home, for which the management must take some of the blame, as well as the players.

Dolan's tactics also leave a lot to be desired. We play three at the back with two full backs who are being asked to play wing backs and then we play three up front and so consequently get overrun in the midfield.

The days when you can just hoof the ball up to a striker have long since gone, even Wimbledon don't play by these tactics any more.

For the good of York City, I just hope that something is done about the current debacle before it is too late. We might want the rivalry back between Scarborough and ourselves but I would rather wait for them to get promoted, than for York to be relegated this season, which at the present seems likely.

Sam Johnson,

Main Street,

Upper Poppleton,

York.

I HAD a phone call last week from someone with a strong Scottish accent asking me questions on consumer issues.

After questions about newspapers, cars, soap powders, etc., I was asked if I supported a football team.

I said "Yes, York City", and the caller burst out laughing. So, Mr Craig, we are a laughing stock in Scottish call centres as well as Burscough (thank goodness we didn't play them in the FA Cup).

I was at Blackpool and I have to say that we deserved a draw but it would have to have been 0-0. There was plenty of effort, but not much else, we couldn't even take corners properly, but we never looked like scoring and never will with the present tactics.

I am suffering from the DT's, the Douglas and Terry syndrome. Can someone please suggest a way to help me, this conditions is now very nearly terminal.

Neil Jaques,

Moss Lane,

Burscough,

Lancashire.

YORK City chairman Douglas Craig states that money is available to buy new players, but it seems all Terry Dolan buys are strikers and midfield players.

Until the style of play is changed from the boring down the middle stuff which we endure week after week we will never be any better.

City need two wing men so that full width of the pitch is used. We may then see some good crosses put in from the vicinity of the by-line.

When playing wide this makes the opposition defenders play in single file right across the pitch and not close enough to cover for another. This gives more time and space for the strikers to control the ball and pick their spot.

Even if the opposition have a good defence the time they are out of position is when they come up for corners so instead of having only one man on the halfway line and ten in the box marking each other at least four should be outside to set up a quick attack when the ball in knocked out.

We don't seem to be able to score even in one to one situations. Players should practice in training how to play the ball to one side as they approach the goalkeeper to create an empty net to shoot at, until changes are made we will never have a decent team.

A Cockerill,

Sandacre Court,

Boroughbridge Road,

York

Updated: 14:38 Saturday, February 03, 2001