Exclusive by Tony Kelly, chief sports writer

Confidence-hit York City have put former captain Tony Barras up for sale. In a shock development the club have transfer-listed the 27-year-old central defender. Manager Alan Little today confirmed that the talented lynchpin has been transfer-listed after talks over a new deal broke down. He said it was purely a 'facts and figures' necessity.

Barras' current contract comes up at the end of this season. But negotiations between the defender and chairman Douglas Craig have reached an impasse.

City's fear is that should the contract rift rumble on without any resolution they would reach the end of the season with Barras then able to move to another club as a free agent under the Bosman ruling.

Mindful of last summer when they lost valued midfielder Steve Bushell to the same scenario when he moved to Second Division rivals Blackpool, City have opted to cash in one of their most prized defensive assets.

Said Little: "We have offered him a tremendous contract but we could not agree so we have put Tony on the list. He is fully aware of the reasoning behind the decision.

"I would love to keep him, but if it looks like we cannot then the best avenue we can take is to try to get some cash benefit for the club and the player."

The news of Barras' listing will come as a shock on the eve of City's FA Cup opener at Enfield in less than 48 hours' time.

It was only eight months ago that City turned down a £350,000 bid from Wigan Athletic for Barras. The Minstermen said then that fee was way below their valuation of the commanding centre-back. They would be seeking something in the region of £400,000 for a player who has been one of the Minstermen's best performers over the past four seasons.

The Stockton-on-Tees born defender came to Bootham Crescent in June 1994 snapped up for £25,000 from Stockport County. It has since proved to be a snip, Barras developing as one of the best buys made by Little.

In that time he has racked up 157 league appearances for the Minstermen, his composure and ability keenly reflected the season before last when he was won the clubman of the year and also the Evening Press-Tap and Spile player of the year.

Three seasons ago Barras was handed the City captaincy, which he held until the start of this campaign when new recruit Steve Agnew took over as Barras spent summer and the first month of the season recovering from a major hip operation.

With a bizarre sense of timing the revelation of his transfer-listing comes after City's midweek loss to Macclesfield in which Barras' announcement as the sponsors' man of the match was jeered.

Meanwhile, Barras' former Stockport County stamping-ground was the venue for a 2-0 defeat for city reserves in Pontin's League division two last night.

The City side failed to convert any of several half-chances before County went ahead at Edgeley Park. The second decisive goal was struck late in the game when City pitched in three more Youth Trainees in Michael Dibie, James Turley and Michael Farley to give them some valuable experience.

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