EXPERIENCED midfielder Steve Agnew reckons York City boss Terry Dolan has got the club's preparations for the new campaign spot-on.

It's a far cry from last season when Agnew was frozen out of the first team picture and seemed to be on his way out of Bootham Crescent.

With five news signings in the bag - Peter Duffield, Graham Potter, Gary Hobson, David McNiven and Phil Hadland - City's squad looks in better shape than the one which started the 1999-2000 season.

"Last year there was a big turnaround with players coming and going and things took time to gel," said the former Leicester and Barnsley 34-year-old.

"The fact the manager came in at the end of last season and had enough games to see what he wanted and what was required is important.

"I thought we did reasonably well towards the end of the year and although we didn't score many goals it gave us something to build on for this season."

And after a busy summer of recruitment by Dolan, the midfield schemer believes City now have an almost perfect balance of youth and experience.

"Obviously, everyone is fit and well and let's hope the situation remains the same throughout the start of the season," he said.

"But the experience and youth balances itself out quite evenly.

"There is some good young talent and it will get better, especially when they play alongside the older lads. The youngsters will improve and the team's results can only improve too."