STEVENAGE Borough have turned down a small fee from York City for centre-back Jason Goodliffe.

The Minstermen were prepared to shell out money for the former Hayes defender but were unwilling to meet the Hertfordshire club's £10,000 asking price.

Goodliffe, whose three-month loan spell at KitKat Crescent ended last weekend, turns 33 in March and would only have been prepared to sign for City until the end of the season because he has a young family that he does not want to uproot.

Rushden and Diamonds boss Graham Westley, who was Goodliffe's manager at Broadhall Way last season, has also expressed an interest but negotiations with his former employers could prove difficult and Stevenage have now told their former club captain that he will need to try and win back his place in the team.

Goodliffe played no part in Stevenage's 2-1 defeat at home to St Albans on Tuesday night, however, and last turned out for Mark Stimson's men in mid-September.

City manager Billy McEwan said: "I spoke to Jason and he was disappointed because the manager has told him he's now a Stevenage player and has got to fight for his place. He's told him he's back in the squad but he doesn't know whether that means he's in the 16 or sat in the stand.

"He's a good lad and I have nothing but praise for him and I don't believe what they are doing to him. We made a small offer but they wanted £10,000.

"He's 32 and he would not have come here for a year and a half because his family are settled down south and I respect his honesty. He would have come here until the end of the season though but they turned our offer down."