DEFENSIVE prop Steve Tutill started afresh today with a debut, which may signal the beginning of the end.

York City born and bred Tutill was on duty on a month's loan for Darlington in their Third Division fixture at Mansfield Town this afternoon.

If he does well then the Quakers are likely to firm up their interest in the defender, who at the age of 28 has several more seasons in him at the least.

In the event of a Darlington bid and the transfer-listed Tutill accepting any such deal then he would go with the blessing of City manager Alan Little.

"I believe Darlington would be happy to take him more permanently if the loan spell works out," said Little.

"And it may be that 'Tut' thinks he is at the stage where he needs a new challenge. It may be the right time for him to move on."

Tutill, who was put on the list five months ago along with a pack of City team-mates, would be allowed to leave York, where he has made more than 300 appearances in 11 years at his one and only club. Added Little: "With Martin Reed coming to the fore, Barry Jones doing so well and John Sharples still there it's right for Steve to go out on loan. He needs first-team football.

"He has been a good professional here and has never been an ounce of bother. I hope he takes his chance."

WATFORD'S arrival to Bootham Crescent this afternoon will be followed quickly by the visit of Bristol City on Tuesday.

Besides being the leading two lights in the Second Division both clubs also point up the considerable gulf in 'haves and have-nots' even at this level.

The Hornets and the Robins, respectively managed by the old Watford one-two of Graham Taylor and John Ward, the latter also cutting his first managerial teeth at York City, have been able to invest heavily. Fees of £200,000 have been regularly laid out by the duo, who are among a Division Two elite.

But that's not surprising when considering the home gates attracted by both. Just a week ago Watford's 'derby' with Luton drew a crowd of 15,182 while Bristol City's Ashton Gate housed almost 12,000 for the visit of Gillingham.

CITY boss Alan Little has been 'tracked' all week. No, he's not being head-hunted by potential new employers.

Little has been shadowed by York Sixth-Form College students Rob Wright and Carl Crossfield.

As part of the man-management section of their sports studies course the duo trailed the City manager all week. It's been far from uneventful.

The pair have joined in training sessions with the City squad, accompanied Little on his scouting missions for a left-back, and attended the midweek reserves' game at Stockport County. Before the end of the week both were bemoaning the fact they hadn't had 'an early night'.

IT'S all change at Bootham Crescent. If not exactly a turn on the managerial merry-go-round there has been a major transfer of power in offices.

So as to better accommodate the expanding youth development programme at City, new coach Joe Joyce and youth team manager Paul Stancliffe have moved into the office of City boss Alan Little.

He and his assistant Derek Bell have transferred to the Football In the Community Liaison office of Paul Olsson, who, in turn, has taken up residence in the 'box-room' formerly occupied by Stancliffe.

Explained Little: "The reasoning behind it is that we needed more space to talk to youngsters and their parents when discussing youth team terms."

JON McCarthy was hardly laughing all the way to the Hasselbaink on his return to Leeds United. The ex-City star was at the centre of the controversy that settled the FA Cup tie for Leeds United at the expense of Birmingham City.

After inspiring the Blues to a 2-2 fightback against Leeds McCarthy claimed he was impeded by United's Jimmy Floyd-Hasselbaink leading to Leeds' last-gasp winner. Sad to hear McCarthy reportedly saying he would have been better being more 'professional' and crying foul.

GOALKEEPER Andy Warrington is not normally of a nervous disposition.

But the youngster, who has faced up to the likes of Eric Cantona, Ryan Giggs, Duncan Ferguson and Andrei Kanchelskis with outward calm in his fledgling career, was almost quaking when taking the microphone at half-time during last week's trip to Plymouth.

Warrington was making his 'debut' as a summariser for Minster FM's second-half coverage of the game. And the verdict? 'Spot-on' judged commentator Tim Thornton.

TWO former City players were influential in striking only the third win of the season for GM Vauxhall Conference anchor club Gateshead.

Nicky Peverell, who scored two goals in 29 League games for the Minstermen before his release in 1996, struck the 90th-minute shot that deflected off Rushden and Diamonds' defender Darren Bradshaw, he of 59 City League outings in the late 1980s, to seal Gateshead's 2-1 win.

Peverell is currently on a month's loan from UniBond League premier division side Bishop Auckland for whom he has scored 53 goals in 18 months.

Another ex-City player in the goals is Darren Falk. The former City junior is currently on the 27-goal mark for Northern Counties East League first division outfit Garforth Town.

FATHERHOOD clearly suits ex-City goalkeeping ace Dean Kiely. In the early hours of last Saturday he rushed his fiancee to hospital, where she gave birth to a son. Just hours later Kiely was in clean sheet mode helping Bury to a 1-0 win over ailing hosts Manchester City. Congratulations all round Deano.

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