York City defender Chris Fairclough will be granted a personal hearing after being charged with misconduct by the Football Association.

An FA spokesman today confirmed Fairclough's request for a hearing before football's top brass had been approved although a date has yet to be fixed.

Fairclough, who was today going under the surgeon's knife for a minor operation on his troubled left knee, was charged by the FA following an alleged incident in the player's tunnel after the Minstermen's fiery draw with Darlington last month.

The veteran defender had until the end of April to respond and, as reported in the Evening Press, sent a letter to Lancaster Gate setting out his version of events from April 8.

It is understood Fairclough's statement differed to that of the Darlington match referee, Paul Robinson.

Fairclough will be keeping his fingers crossed that today's surgery will reveal no serious complications and his knee will require no more than a 'flush-out'.

The central defender missed much of the latter part of the campaign after damaging ligaments at Christmas.

But if surgeons give him the all-clear after today, Fairclough is confident he will be able join his team mates for the start of pre-season on July 6.

Meanwhile, former York City midfielder Martin Garratt has failed in a bid to resurrect his troubled career at Mansfield Town.

Garratt is one of five players released by Stags boss Billy Dearden, along with former captain David Linighan, Scott Gibbons, Lee Cowling and Gavin Bassinder.

Garratt, 20, had linked up with former City team mate Bobby Mimms at Field Mill after his Bootham Crescent contract was terminated for a serious breach of contract after a season of undisclosed health and discipline problems.

The midfielder, who only last season, spent a trial spell with Leeds United and was linked with a move to Sheffield Wednesday, was initially signed by Dearden until the end of the campaign and made a handful of first team players.

Mansfield's David Kerr is also available on a free transfer despite still having a year on his current contract to run.

Former Minstermen manager Denis Smith has agreed a new one year contract for keeping Oxford United in the Second Division.