York City manager Gary Mills intends to recruit players with a knowledge of Conference football as he looks to bolster his squad this summer.

Mills is yet to make a new signing since the regulation season ended three weeks ago but has outlined his preferred criteria for any new faces.

Since his arrival at Bootham Crescent, Mills has brought in four players on contracts beyond this summer with three of that quartet experienced campaigners in the highest echelon of non-League football.

Midfielders Andre Boucaud and Scott Kerr both enjoyed long spells at City’s current level with Kettering and Scarborough respectively.

Chris Smith, made captain by Mills after joining from Mansfield in October, also played for the Stags and Tamworth in the Blue Square Bet Premier.

Striker Jamie Reed, signed from Welsh Premier League side Bangor City, was the exception with his previous clubs including Wrexham and Tamworth when the two sides were plying their trade in League Two and the Conference North respectively.

Will Hatfield, signed on loan from Leeds United meanwhile, was restricted to just one league start and fellow raw Football League recruit Aiden Chippendale returned to parent club Huddersfield United without even forcing his way on to the City bench.

Of Mills’ other signings with no previous Conference experience, Robbie Weir fared better before moving on to Tranmere following a successful loan spell from Sunderland.

Ashley Chambers and Liam Darville, who joined the club from Leicester and Leeds respectively, also became regulars at different stages of the season but are yet to be offered deals next season by Mills, who has warned any League players not to underestimate the demands and quality of non-League football if considering a career in the Blue Square Bet Premier.

He said: “There are a lot of Conference players who I have no doubt in my mind can play in the Football League but you have to be given that chance and then earn that opportunity.

“Vice versa, there are players in the League who might not appreciate just how good a standard it is in the Conference so it’s important that anybody who comes to York City knows what this league is all about.”