Outgoing youth coach Joe Joyce today declared his sadness at leaving York City after less than six months at the helm.

The 37-year-old Joyce has quit Bootham Crescent to take up a top-notch post as north-east regional coach for the Professional Footballers' Association.

He will be responsible for monitoring coaching programmes across the region from FA Carling Premiership Newcastle United to the Football League's 'new boys' Halifax Town.

City, meanwhile, have acted swiftly, appointing in Joyce's place an 'old boy'. One-time City trialist Adie Shaw is to succeed Joyce to the youth coaching staff at Bootham Crescent.

The shake-up was forced when Joyce ended his brief stint with the Minstermen to join the PFA payroll. He told me today it was the 'only job' for which he would leave City.

And one of the immediate 'perks' of his new appointment is that he will be heading to France to take in some of England's group games in the World Cup as part of a PFA coaches' fact-finding mission.

Declared the former defender, whose professional career spanned 20 seasons and more than 620 League and cup games: "If this had not come up there would not have been another job that would have tempted me to leave York City.

"I will always be indebted to York for giving me the opportunity to work there. They have wished me all the best and I wish them all the best."

Among the prime considerations for Joyce was the challenge of the PFA post, which covers a wide area from Newcastle to Lincoln and across to south Yorkshire to Barnsley.

Enthused the one-time Barnsley, Scunthorpe and Carlisle defender: "I am very excited.

"It's rare when a job like this comes up, especially at a time when coaching is becoming so predominant in the game. I will miss the day to day involvement of being with one club, but now I will be involved with something like 20 different clubs.

"Another over-riding factor is that I will not have to move from my home. To do the job properly at York would have meant moving to the area and I was geared up to do that until this job came up."

Joyce insisted City's youth programme was in good health, the departing coach playing tribute to the club's policy of developing talent."I am disappointed to leave now as I feel the club were going places," he said.

"The whole structure is right for them, because it's something the club have done for years and years.

"York are well renowned for their youth policy and I am sure it will continue in that vein. They are a club in the forefront of youth development and they have reaped the rewards of that in the last few years."

Joyce's replacement, Shaw, made five League appearances for City during a trial in October 1988, his debut in a 1-1 draw with Doncaster Rovers. However, he was not retained and went on to have two years at Chesterfield until a serious groin injury forced his retirement.

Bedlington-born, the 32-year-old began his career with Nottingham Forest, only to be released by manager Brian Clough without playing a first team game.

The midfielder signed for Halifax Town in 1985, where he was a team-mate of City boss Alan Little. Shaw figured in 100 games for the Shaymen.

After retiring Shaw took over the Lincolnshire Football In The Community scheme before moving on to the Chesterfield centre of excellence.

Former York City player Jon McCarthy, now at Birmingham, has been included in Northern Ireland's line-up to face World Cup hopefuls Spain in Santander tonight.

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