FORMER England under-17 international Liam Darville is hoping York City will look to retain his services for next season.

Darville started 17 of City’s last 19 games after being released by Leeds United during the January transfer window.

But the 20-year-old right-back, who is currently out of contract, has yet to be offered new terms at Bootham Crescent.

Darville has not spoken to any other clubs concerning his future and is waiting to hear whether City boss Gary Mills wants him in his squad for the 2011/12 campaign.

The Bradford-born full back, who also operated in midfield for the Minstermen, said: “I’d love to be offered a contract at York next season and hopefully I can get that opportunity.

“It would be nice to sit down with the gaffer to see if York might offer me a deal, as well as discussing different issues.

“I’ve not really spoken to any other clubs.

“We only finished playing a couple of weeks ago so I’ve had some time off and I’ll wait and see what happens now in terms of offers or anything else.”

Darville spent last summer on trial with City before kicking off the season at League One outfit Tranmere Rovers.

He made nine appearances for Tranmere but then returned to Elland Road, where his chances of a senior outing were non-existent.

Despite his Football League experience, though, Darville had no qualms about dropping down to the Blue Square Bet Premier and would feel the same if he is handed another chance to operate at that level, adding: “I’ve enjoyed playing first-team football and it’s definitely a different animal to reserve football.

“I’m 20 years old and the most important thing for me is playing first-team football at a good level and the Blue Square Bet Premier is a good level.

“It’s a platform to show what you are capable of instead of being stuck in a reserve team.

“I’ve improved a lot since I started playing for York. It’s been nice to play in front of a packed stadium rather than at a 30,000-seater ground in front of one man and his dog.

“I’ve also been playing against stronger players in games that mean something, whereas in the reserves you are up against players coming back from injury, young lads who have never played in the first team or senior professional at the tail end of their careers.”

Darville would also welcome furthering his football education alongside the likes of seasoned campaigners like Chris Smith, Daniel Parslow and David McGurk in City’s defence.

He said: “Smudge, Pars and TY have a lot of experience and have been playing football for a long time.

“It was my first full season and it really helped being able to talk to people who had been through certain situations. You learn a lot from them.”

• Aldershot have confirmed that they have signed York City striker Michael Rankine, as reported in The Press earlier this week.