Sports Mail

Let us all hope that York City's sad relegation will be the launchpad for a wind of change for the club - from top to bottom.

The harsh reality is that League football is not sustainable on the pathetic support the club receives. Taking into account York's population and catchment area it should be at least capable of offering first division fare.

While tremendous credit is due to Douglas Craig for his prudent handling of the club's finances, commercially the club has stood still .

With a ground capacity down to 8,000 what does the club install in a prime viewing area alongside the main stand? - a water tank.

The board is in dire need of an injection of drive and vision to drive the club forward into the Millennium. I appeal to Douglas Craig to consider the following:

1 - Install credit card facilities for pre-booking of match tickets.

2 - Stipulate in players' contracts that visits to local schools are mandatory in order to sell the club to its future supporters.

3 - Fill those empty seats and terraces, even if it entails free admission to thousands of youngsters. Players cannot possibly respond while playing in such a dull, lacklustre soulless environment that currently exists.

4 - Replace the archaic public address system.

5 - Involve local radio in pre-match presentation and generate some spark and vitality on match days.

These suggestions have been proved to be viable by the more progressive league clubs but need driving forward by dynamic, young management.

It is clear the City board is in dire need of an injection of youth and energy. The present incumbents are out of touch with today's culture.

The appointment of a hungry ambitious manager in Neil Thompson is a good start, but unless the board can generate some life and energy into changing the dour, unfriendly environment that presently pervades at Bootham Crescent, professional football in this city will die.

Martin Fowler

Middlethorpe Grove,

York

I would like to comment on the Evening Press' excellent survey of the past season and assessment of players' performances.

I think the comments on Andy Warrington's performances are misplaced. His nervous performances generated an overall reaction from both the team and the supporters.

They did not create the situation, he did. There may not be room for a great deal of sentiment n football management, but I felt that Andy McMillan was treated harshly and poorly rewarded for many years of service. A contract for a further year would have been appropriate.

I am sorry that Gordon Connelly is to leave us. He is talented and his failure is mote to do with lack of support than lack of skill.

We need a goalkeeper, central midfield player and a big centre forward in the Keith Walwyn mould.

Donald J Fearnley

Thorn Nook,

Muncaster

York

I was pleased to see so many letters about York City in the Evening Press last Saturday. It does show that people care after such a disastrous season. City directors must be congratulated on keeping the club on a financially sound basis in recent years, but the praise stops there.

Why did it take them so long to have a change of manager? Two points from a possible 33 spells doom in anyone's language. Chairman Douglas Craig talks about loyalty, a commendable quality, but it can be overdone. If he and his directors had acted a month or so earlier instead of letting things slide we might still have been in the second division.

All good past City teams have had a decent goalkeeper, centre half and centre forward - a 'spine'. Examples: Graeme Crawford, Barry Swallow, Chris Jones/Jimmy Seal; Dean Kiely, Paul Stancliffe, Paul Barnes.

City have been indecisive in goal and have played without a commanding big central defender all last season.

How can Mr Craig criticise fans for shouting at City players when he does more than anyone else? Neil Thompson has a big job on his hands. I wish him luck - he'll need it.

Martin Durham,

Cherrywood Crescent,

Fulford Road,

York.

In response to those who think that Andy McMillan and Mark Tinkler shouldn't have been transfer listed - the club is always far bigger than any player.

After watching McMillan week in week out since 1992, performing as one of the best full backs in Nationwide League, I have to say his time is up. McMillan has had a poor season this season, and Tinkler has been too much of a liability with his poor disciplinary record.

As the third division is a much more physical division, I can only predict that Tinkler would pick up more sendings off and cautions.

From what I have seen of Matt Hocking and Andrew Dawson who have both played in McMillan's position. Hocking has been outstanding while Dawson has played average.

There should be no room for sentiment in football, and if the club is to be successful, in gaining promotion at the first attempt.

No disrespect to McMillan, who has been a great servant to the club. Hocking and Dawson have age on their side, McMillan doesn't. Players should never be kept solely for the purpose of achieving a certain number of games, but for the good of the club.

If someone of Thompson's attitude had been in charge of the team earlier, we may not have had to endure the threat of relegation every May since 1996.

Jake Rookes,

Harcourt Street,

Heworth,

York.

Andy McMillan has not been sold yet. He he has been put on the transfer list.

He has a year of his contract to go which means should he recover from his present injury and return to the form of three or four years ago then he will be in contention for a place come next season, providing nobody comes in for him.

He was the first to admit that his form this last season has not been up to his usual standard. I was upset at first when I read about it, but when I thought about it I decided it would probably be for the best.

City have got to vacate the third division as soon as possible, it does not suit the 'football' we play. We have to try to accept whatever Neil Thompson thinks is right.

Give him a chance to prove himself. Give him and the team your support. Get behind them. Be positive.

Mrs J Maycock,

Jacobi Close,

York.

Neil Thompson has proved that the whole situation at Bootham Crescent has gone to his head.There is no need to make wholesale changes for the sake of it. It is obvious Allan Little's departure came too late but if it wasn't for one Wycombe away goal at Lincoln, York would still be in the Second Division next season.Some fans remember Bobby Saxton's reign as manager and wouldn't let him through the bar walls now. He had to build a team up from very little and it ended up being an absolute disaster.To kick Andy McMillan out of the club is an absolute disgrace. He is as much York City as any fan and has a lot of talent to offer, especially a basement division club. Peter George,Queen Victoria Street,South Bank, York. I was a little shocked regarding the imminent departure of Andy McMillan, Mark Tinkler and Martin Reed.

I would be interested to hear Neil Thompson's 'football reasons'. It looks like this may have paved the way for an influx of 'stoppers', 'spoilers' and 'cloggers', well within Mr Craig's budget.

The manager shouldn't be judged until the end of the season and I hope he can prove those fans already head-shaking wrong.

Nostradamus predicted the end of the world in 2000, I hope this is not the beginning of the end for City.

James Todd

Rowntree Avenue,

Clifton,

York

Thank goodness at long last the York City directors have got something right in appointing Neil Thompson as the new manager.

In the wake of so many years of disaster - fights against relegation and constant excuses for his team's inability to win from Alan Little - it is so refreshing to see a manager of flair, and someone who admits openly that we were not good enough.

The signings of Chris Fairclough and Marc Williams were classic moves, and both made such a difference to the team's vain efforts to stay up in the latter part of the season.

And what do the defence - the worst in the league - expect Neil to do? Give them a gold medal for their pathetic displays. Andy McMillan was a classic defender but he now deserves the boot, as do Reed, Mark Tinkler, Bobby Mimms, Andy Warrington,

Gordon Connelly and Neil Tolson.

Bryan R Lawson,

Burton Fields Road,

Stamford Bridge,

York.

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