YORK City captain Manny Panther will not be leaving the club before the transfer window closes on Thursday.

The Press understands that a clutch of Blue Square Premier promotion contenders are interested in securing the 23-year-old midfielder's services, but Panther still believes City can mount a challenge themselves after Saturday's 2-0 home victory over Aldershot.

Panther will be out of contract this summer and free to leave KitKat Crescent under the Bosman ruling, but he has no plans to jump ship at this moment in time.

He told the Press: "I definitely know I will be here this time next week. I've not heard of any interest myself and I am happy at York. I want to win something for the club and I'm not going to walk away when things are going so well. The longer our run goes on, the better and the happier I am."

Despite goals from Richard Brodie and Martyn Woolford extending the club's unbeaten run to 13 games, City are still nine points adrift of a play-off place, but Panther believes a top-five spot is still within the team's grasp.

He said: "We always keep looking and chasing the teams ahead and I think it's up to us if we want to get up there and make a good go of things. We have set a standard now to try and get up there at the end of the season and I think we can still do that. We won't be giving up, that's for sure."

But City will not be sacrificing success in the FA Trophy and Setanta Shield to concentrate on their league fortunes.

The Minstermen are due to visit Alfreton or Farlsey on Saturday, depending on the outcome of tomorrow's FA Trophy replay.

Colin Walker's men will then play host to Northwich Victoria in the Setanta Shield next Tuesday and Panther does not regard either competition as an awkward distraction.

He said: "It's an exciting point of the season and the longer we are in both cups is great because we want to win them. We want to win something for York, whether that's the Setanta Shield, FA Trophy or maybe the play-off final. It would be great to get some silverware at the end of the season."

The Scottish skipper also feels that Saturday's victory should silence any sceptics of the club's long unbeaten run under Walker.

He said: "A lot of people have said that we haven't beaten any of the top teams during this good run and haven't been tested but, by beating Aldershot, it shows we still mean business in the league. It was definitely our best home performance of the season.

"There have been doubts about our form at KitKat Crescent, but we played with no fear and beat the team who are top of the league. We also kept a clean sheet, which is great and will give us a lot of confidence for the games ahead."

City also enjoyed their third 3,000-plus crowd of the season for Saturday's game.

A gate of 3,092 fell just 44 short of the opening day attendance against Cambridge United and, this time, Panther hopes all the supporters will return.

He said: "We had a few big crowds earlier in the season and it was disappointing when we didn't put on a good show but, hopefully, they will come back now."