York City boss Billy McEwan is pondering his future after the Football League's decision to reject an appeal against the withdrawal of funding towards the club's Centre of Excellence programme.

But the League are still considering whether to allow the Minstermen to run a team in next season's Youth Alliance League and the club are also holding internal talks to ensure the continuation of junior football at KitKat Crescent.

McEwan even enlisted the help of Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson for this week's unsuccessful appeal.

Ferguson opened City's Wigginton Road training ground as part of the deal that took former Minstermen keeper Nick Culkin to Old Trafford.

The Red Devils also later signed another York youth-team graduate Jonathan Greening for a seven-figure sum.

During their last season in the Football League, City received £138,000 towards the funding of their Centre of Excellence programme from the FA, PFA, Premier League, Football League and Sport England.

That figure was reduced by 50 per cent to £69,000 for the Minstermen's first two seasons in the Conference but, as was always anticipated, will now be withdrawn.

An angry McEwan has admitted that the decision has even made him consider his future at KitKat Crescent.

The City boss fumed: "If we lose the licence to run a Centre of Excellence and cannot play in the Youth Alliance League, it will be a massive blow to the future of York City and it looks like we will have to find funding ourselves if we want to carry on.

"Alex Ferguson understands this club has a reputation for development and a proud tradition of producing young players but, now the club has fallen on hard times, there does not seem to be any sympathy from certain areas towards our football club. There's an attitude of 'those are the rules' and that's it.

"I've prided myself throughout my career on working with young players and getting them in the team and (youth coach) Ian Kerr left a good job at Hartlepool to work here.

"It's a blow to me as a person and a football manager because the youth structure helps my job.

"Now, I have to look at my situation and think if it's worthwhile staying at York City.

"We can't keep asking our poor fans for money and we need one or two big backers to come in and help us."

City's communications and community director Sophie McGill confirmed that Kerr and board members Jason McGill and Steve Beck attended a "positive" meeting with the Football League this week.

McGill said: "The meeting with the Football League was very positive and we are now hoping to be allowed to play in the Youth Alliance League next season.

"Internal discussions are now being held at the club to find a solution to funding our youth system in the future."

Updated: 11:01 Friday, April 28, 2006