York City manager Terry Dolan has confirmed that club captain Peter Swan's career is hanging in the balance.

The City skipper played only two games this season before undergoing an opera-tion to repair damaged cartilage in his knee.

His recovery is taking longer than expected however, and Dolan has now admitted the threat to the 34-year-old's career is real.

A first specialist's report has revealed the worst but the club is now sweating on the outcome of a second report before con-firming Swan's career is definitely over.

The captain's loss would be a massive blow to the City chief, who insisted the injury was not linked to the cruciate ligament injury that kept him out of the Burnley team for almost a year but was picked up in a pre-season friendly against North Ferriby United.

Signed on a short-term deal at the end of last season after being released from Turf Moor, Swan marshalled City's previous leaking defence superbly and did enough to earn a new one year deal.

He was sent-off in City's first game of this season at Chesterfield and during his suspension underwent keyhole surgery to trim some damaged cartilage.

Dolan revealed the injury to Swan and fellow central defenders Gary Hobson and Chris Fairclough had seen him in talks with Bradford City about the possi-bility of securing the services again of former loan star Mark Bower.

The youngster, who starred alongside Swan at the end of last season, was set to come to Bootham Crescent on an extended loan deal at the beginning of the current campaign.

However, Bantams' chief Chris Hutchings blocked the move due to his side being involved in the Intertoto Cup.

Unperturbed, Dolan turned to Valley Parade again at the height of City's recent injury crisis only for Hutchings again refuse to let Bower go due to mounting injury problems at the Premiership club.

However, while no move is imminent Dolan is not ruling out a situation of third time lucky once Bradford's injury problems have eased.

Meanwhile, City full-back Neville Stamp has been rewarded with a contract until the end of the season.

Stamp, 19, and signed on an initial one-month contract from Reading, has pro-duced a number of fine performances since joining since joining the Minstermen earlier last month.

The City chief confirmed he is also to have talks with Macclesfield boss Peter Davenport over the future of winger Kieron Durkan this week.

Durkan's month-long loan is up after Saturday's trip to Cardiff and is believed to be attracting the interest of a couple of over clubs.

Striker Alex Mathie could be rested for the trip to Ninian Park, Dolan also ad-mitted.

The former Ipswich, Newcastle and Celtic ace was substituted after just 20 minutes of Saturday's 0-0 draw with Hull with hamstring problems.

Dolan also confirmed the club had received "a couple" of inquiries for transfer-listed striker Barry Conlon while revealing the club had tried to reach an amicable settlement with out of favour duo Craig Skinner and Marc Williams.

Both players are also on the transfer-list and have not even featured in the City reserve team of late.

However, while the club has made it clear neither have a future at Bootham Cres-cent both players have indicated they are prepared to sit out the remainder of their contracts, which run-out at the end of next season.

Dolan said he was also prepared to listen to offers for John Williams, who has been unable to command a regular first-team berth under the City chief.