FORMER York City manager Chris Brass has signed for League Two side Bury.

Brass, 30, reached an agreement with the Minstermen last week over the remaining 18 months of his KitKat Crescent contract.

He had been offered the chance of joining Conference bottom club Southport as player assistant-manager and also had other interest from Football League clubs before agreeing a deal with the Shakers to the end of the season.

Brass will be working under the son of his first-ever manager at Gigg Lane.

Bury boss Chris Casper's father Frank was in charge at Burnley when Brass was a 16-year-old trainee at Turf Moor.

Casper junior, like Brass during his first season at the Bootham Crescent helm, also became the Football League's youngest manager when he was appointed last September at the age of 30.

The Shakers are currently 20th in League Two, eight points clear of the drop zone.

Meanwhile, Lee Andrews has given his reasons for returning to League Two promotion-chasers Carlisle United after a successful loan spell at City.

The 22-year-old defender was offered an extension to his two-month stay by City boss Billy McEwan but opted instead to return and fight for his place at Carlisle even though he is way down the pecking order at Brunton Park.

Andrews, whose contract with the Cumbrians expires at the end of the season, said: "If I keep my head down and do well, hopefully I'll get my chance (at Carlisle).

"It was good to get a few games under my belt at York. I played ten games

there and did quite well.

"York's a little club compared to Carlisle but I enjoyed it there. They

wanted me to stay but I've decided I want to try

to get back in the first team at Carlisle."

City's reserves lost 1-0 at Scunthorpe United with Nathan Peat given another run out and ex-Chesterfield midfielder Sam Lancaster playing as a trialist.

Strikers Bryan Stewart and Leo Bertos also figured with a first-team starting place against Grays Athletic on Saturday on offer because of Andy Bishop's one-match ban.

Updated: 09:55 Wednesday, January 18, 2006