York City are to suspend the hunt for a number two until summer.

Manager Alan Little with members of the City back-room staff who will share out coaching duties

Rather than appoint an immediate successor to Derek Bell, City will employ their own rotation policy. From now until the end of the season various duties will be shared around between the existing coaching staff.

City have been without a number two since Bell's surprise move from Bootham Crescent as assistant to Alan Little on New Year's Eve.

Bell ended four years at City when he was appointed director of youth football at Second Division rivals Lincoln City. Lincoln-based

Bell said he was unable to turn down a four-year contract with the Red Imps, with whom he enjoyed a notable playing career as a striker.

It was first expected the Minstermen would promote from within. But manager Little countered that, insisting City had no need to rush.

Now he has confirmed there will be no firm appointment at all until the current campaign is over. Instead a wide range of tasks will be divided among the present back-room brigade.

And Little also countered reports that Adie Shaw, City's head of youth development, would step up to the number two role with increased responsibility for Brian Neaves, who helps to run the club's under-16 team.

Explained the City manager: "We will carry on without a new number two until the end of the season. A decision will then be made in the summer.

"There's nothing definite planned to change anybody. Adie is still in charge of youth and what is happening is that we are just mixing and matching the coaching duties up to get us through the rest of the season."

Two City stars will be striving to kick-start their campaign tonight.

Back on duty for the reserves at home to north Yorkshire rivals Scarborough are player-coach Neil Thompson and midfielder Alan Pouton, who have both been long-term absentees.

Thompson will likely start the Pontin's second division match against one of his former clubs. It will be the defender's first appearance in ten weeks after undergoing surgery on a damaged Achilles.

The 22-year-old Pouton has been missing for three months after suffering an ankle injury in training. He is expected to come on as a substitute for the second-half tonight. If both come through safely they will enter the equation for Saturday's visit of Reading, confirmed City boss Little.

There will also be a first start for goalkeeper Andy Warrington since he broke three bones in his hand during the FA Cup replay win over Enfield at the end of November.

Trialist winger David Williamson will get a run-out. Formerly with Motherwell and Cambridge United he has recently returned to Britain after playing in his native Hong Kong.

City reserves (ko 7pm): Warrington, Dawson, Reed, Rennison, Thompson, Williamson, Bullock, Garratt, Prendergast, Tolson, Woods. Subs Urwin, Pouton, Turley.

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