YORK City’s move for Stevenage Borough striker Iyseden Christie has fallen through.

Christie was set to be recalled from his loan period at Kettering by the Herfordshire club to pave the way for a temporary switch to KitKat Crescent.

But City boss Colin Walker, who has been thwarted in bids to bring a succession of high-profile forwards to the club such as Clayton Donaldson, Michael Twiss, Justin Richards and Luke Beckett, has missed out on the 31-year-old ex-Mansfield and Kidderminster front-man.

He said: “For whatever reason, the deal’s off. We had the shirts printed with his name on and everything, but it seems to have been scuppered.”

Christie, pictured right, signed for Stevenage from Kidderminster in the summer but was shipped out on loan to Kettering just three weeks into the new season.

He has scored three goals in five games for the Poppies, including a brace against the Minstermen during a 4-2 away defeat for Walker’s side last month.

Under Blue Square Premier rules, clubs cannot recall players who have joined other teams on half-season or season-long loan deals.

Christie’s switch to Northamptonshire, however, was a short-term loan extended after one month, meaning Stevenage would be within their rights to request his return and sanction a similar move to the Minstermen.

City boss Walker will now continue his search for a new forward ahead of Saturday’s home match with Rushden and Diamonds.