Football: Thompson's going Dutch

He is planning a trip to Holland to check on players.

Although sceptical of foreign players in the English game, Thompson plans to make use of his contact in Holland, Romeo Zondervan, who was a team-mate of the City chief at Ipswich Town.

Thompson said: "I have seen at my previous clubs that a lot of foreign players come to this country and see it as a meal ticket. The rigours of English football is something they find hard to cope with."

Despite those reservations he is looking at a cross-Channel trip in the spring.

Dutch international midfielder and Zondervan, who started his career with Den Haag, first came to England in March 1982 when he joined West Bromwich Albion for £225,000.

He was voted player of the year by Baggies supporters in his first season with the club and rejected several offers to return to Holland to continue his career in England with Ipswich, whom he joined for a cut-price £70,000 in March 1984.

Whatever his detractors throw at himThompson is not about to walk away from the Bootham Crescent hot-seat.

Under fire Thompson confirmed his resolve as he answered questions from fans as part of the "Feedback 99" project orchestrated by the York City Supporters newsletter "There's Only One Arthur Bottom".

"If you think a section of fans will drive me out you are wrong," said Thompson, in response to a suggestion that pressure from fans might make him reconsider his position.

"The recent protests by FACT, a minority of York fans, only strengthens my resolve to succeed at the club. I have been asked to do a job and I will do it."

However, Thompson was more anxious that supporters' chants had a negative effect on the players and cited this as a factor in City's poor home form.

"My concern is for the players out on the pitch. Some players react differently to criticism," explained Thompson.

"I know fans have a right to their opinions but I think vocal criticism, certainly to younger players, is counter productive.

"Would you like to work at a desk with someone constantly criticising you? I do not think you would give of your best.

"I certainly feel the players are apprehensive about playing at home. I realise the criticism comes from the minority and we have to rise above any criticism and be mentally strong enough to impose ourselves on other teams at Bootham Crescent.

"At the end of the day, if the members of FACT and any supporter who verbally slates a player can go home after a match and feel pleased with themselves, then I feel sad for them."

Asked if any one incident might force him to leave the club Thompson reacted: "Whenever that time comes, for whatever reason, I will be well aware of it.

"I have been asked to do a job and we will strive, through hard work effort and knowledge, to make York City successful.

"It is a challenge which does not faze me in the least and criticism and plaudits come with the territory. You have to take the rough with the smooth.

"Being manager is a position I do not take lightly and I am certainly determined to succeed and will put every effort into the job."

Asked what he felt his achievements had been as a manager so far Thompson focused on the rebuilding of the City side.

"Putting what I consider a sound defence together and bringing in young players," said Thompson.

"My aim at the end of last season was to rebuild and that starts from the back. Last year our defence was poor - conceding far too many goals.

"We had only six clean sheets in all competitions, this season we have had eight in the first 20 League games, which I think this is progression.

"We are not there yet in this department, but after a lot hard work on the training ground going in the right direction."

But as ever fans were concerned that they should be entertained too.

"In an ideal world we would all like to play attractive entertaining football," said the City boss.

"I think it took Crewe 12 years to get out of this division playing that way and Newcastle lost the Premiership by going down that route."

"In division three you need a mixture of aggression and footballing ability and my priority is to get results and get us up the table."

He admitted City could do with a wideman but added: "The reality is that there is not a surplus of wingers in this country, we certainly go out and watch enough games in search of the right player and that will continue."

Ray close to glory

Former York City defender Ray Warburton led from the front as Nationwide Conference outfit Rushden & Diamonds went out of the FA Cup glowing with pride, writes Dave Stanford.

Manager Brian Talbot was full of praise for his brave team after they took First Division Sheffield United to a dramatic penalty shoot-out before finally slipping off the road to more cup glory.

It was a Warburton extra-time strike that forced the sudden-death shoot-out, equalising Shaun Derry's 103 minute goal for United.

Simon Tracey's save from Jon Brady's penalty was ultimately the only difference between the sides as Marcus Bent's winning strike from the spot eventually sent United, now bossed by former Minstermen winger Neil Warnock, through to play Newcastle or Tottenham.

l City's FA Cup conquerors Hereford United tackle Leicester City in tonight's third round replay at Filbert Street with United's director of football Graham Turner believing the Premiership side's gruelling programme can help the Conference club spring an upset.

The Foxes are in the middle of a run of five matches in 13 days and have also been rocked by injuries to key players such as Neil Lennon, Steve Guppy and Frank Sinclair.

Former Blackburn Rovers and Wolves star Mark Atkins, who made 12 appearances for the Minstermen earlier this term, has committed himself to Nationwide Conference club Doncaster.

Akins has been on a short-term contract at Belle Vue since his October departure from Bootham Crescent but has now signed a deal that runs until 2001.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.