Since the start of the season, York City have played like 11 scared and confused men.

Forget the "surge" up to seventh after 10 games. Ten games say nothing for how the season will pan out.

No matter whatever personnel manager Alan Little selects, these players are simply not motivated to play for him.

He now has the task of turning the club around in double quick time or facing another relegation dogfight.

And how can we long-suffering fans expect a turnaround in fortunes when players such as Tony Barras are on the transfer list.

The club is not a happy place and this has been the case for several years.

Players such as Rob Matthews, Adrian Randall, Dean Kiely, Steve Bushell and Darren Williams have left because of what I believe amounts to a lack of ambition. These players have not been adequately replaced.

Yet cash continues to pour into the Bootham Crescent coffers through the sales of Jonathan Greening and Graeme Murty.

It has become evident that Alan Pouton is the man who can turn things around for City. When he regains fitness, it is imperative that he is not sold.

He will be as influential for City as Jon McCarthy ever was and far more than Richard Cresswell, who, I sadly believe, will not sustain his goal-scoring form of Saturday into the league.

By all means sell and replace Cresswell, but to have any chance of staying up, City must spend on a goalkeeper, left midfielder, central midfielder and centre forward.

We are weak in all of these positions and new younger players would be most welcome for the diminishing crowds at Bootham Crescent.

The team will always have my support, but the club has now degenerated into a stiff upper-lipped mess, in which supporters have no confidence.

John Skilbeck,

Hemingbrough,

Selby.

THE display against Macclesfield last week was, in my opinion, one of the worst I have witnessed in 33 years of watching City.

I left the ground early feeling cheated. Having spoken to several other season ticket holders I know I am not alone in my view of a team with no ambition and very little fight.

The forward line has been utterly toothless since Paul Barnes' departure and the 'goals for' column over the past three seasons tells its own story. Defensive dithering also costs City dear.

No matter how you dress it up, the fans are right, and have every right to have a go at the team. Hard earned money passes over to the club through the turnstiles and it is frustrating to see no return for that expenditure in the shape of effort.

Along with many others we find the pain of defeat is less severe if players try their hearts out, but recent displays have not shown any such resolve.

How chairman Douglas Craig, manager Alan Little and company can expect to attract more fans or even keep the faithful ones they have with this sort of fare being offered on a weekly basis is beyond me. Perhaps this will be the last season ticket I shall buy.

Jim Dawes,

Mowbray Farm,

Low Catton,

Stamford Bridge.

see SPORT 'City rocked by Crezzie injury'

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