An old face to Bootham Crescent was today unveiled as York City's new commercial manager.

James Richardson, match-day programme editor, is stepping up from assistant commercial manager and takes over from Maureen Leslie, who is leaving the club after 23 years unstinting service.

Richardson, 26, said: "Maureen has given me a fantastic grounding in the commercial department over the last five years. She has been a great inspiration and she's certainly going to be a hard act to follow."

Richardson will be working closely with the club's public relations executive, Sophie McGill, in his new role.

"The bottom line is to bring in more revenue but perhaps it is a bit more subtle than that," he said.

"We are moving forward but the need to increase revenue at York City is imperative at the moment and we are constantly looking at new revenue streams to generate extra income."

New hospitality packages on match days will be starting soon while Richardson is also exploring the possibility of the club offering its facilities for conferences and company meetings.

"I want to be open and be someone people can come to if they have ideas," said Richardson.

A former student of Salford University, Richardson claims to have seen more than 650 City games since he watched his first match in October 1984 - a 1-0 win over Blackburn Rovers courtesy of a Keith Walwyn strike.

He also used to be a match day seller of the programmes he will continue to edit.

Leslie has overseen many changes at the club, most recently the reorganisation of the commercial department which she has managed for the past five years.

Offered another management position at Bootham Crescent, she has decided her full-time working days are over although she maybe tempted into a part-time position.

Richardson and McGill were in Leicester today, delegates at a commercial and marketing conference for designed specifically for football clubs

The conference, partly subsidised by the Football League, aims to encourage clubs to develop new commercial initiatives and making the most from the Internet.

York's representative's are looking to glean tips from the top and give City a boost in its bid to bring in fresh revenue.

McGill said: "A lot of the big clubs are present so it gives us a chance to see what their commercial departments are doing.

"The good ideas tend to start in the Premiership and filter down through the lower divisions."

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