YORK City striker Dave Pounder has left KitKat Crescent after failing to break into the first team and fellow forward Ryan Mallon is expected to follow him.

Pounder, who was released by Scarborough at the end of last season, has not made the bench for any of City's matches in 2005/06 and has turned down the chance to stay at the club on a non-contract basis.

Ex-Halifax forward Mallon has managed one start and five substitute appearances since signing for the Minstermen in the summer but has spent the last month on loan at Gainsborough Trinity and is expected to complete a permanent move to the Conference North club.

City boss Billy McEwan is hoping that the departures will clear the way for a new signing before the transfer window closes on January 31.

The KitKat Crescent board are also talking to former manager Chris Brass about a financial settlement over the remainder of his contract.

Brass' one-month loan spell at Southport has come to an end but he is close to moving to the Conference's bottom club permanently as assistant manager.

Left-back Stephen Baynes, meanwhile, has joined Bishop Auckland on loan.

City boss McEwan said: "Dave Pounder will move out. He was on a monthly contract and we can't extend it because he's not done enough for me.

"We need the money to go to other places and a few more might have to move out to bring more in.

"Ryan Mallon falls into that category. Gainsborough are keen on him and, even though I don't really want him to go, if he has a chance to get regular first-team football and it benefits him we have to consider it.

"I would have liked to have kept them both but I can possibly use their two wages to bring in a better player.

"Negotiations are taking place between the club and Southport about Chris Brass and it looks like he could be on his way. That's not definite but it's nearly done."

Updated: 09:41 Friday, January 06, 2006