GETTING goals is driving the transfer policy of York City’s management duo this summer.

Assistant manager Darron Gee said only by improving the Minstermen’s net return in the upcoming Blue Square Bet Premier season could the club achieve their aims of getting back into the Football League.

With top scorer Michael Rankine, whose 14 goals last season included seven from the penalty spot, having departed for Aldershot, Gee said the captures of former Watford striker Liam Henderson and ex-Kidderminster winger Matty Blair were designed to start filling the gap and more.

Last season, City scored only 55 goals in 46 Conference matches – the lowest number of any side in the top 16. In fact, only five of the 23 other teams netted fewer than the Minstermen.

“We need to score goals,” said Gee.

“If we are going to get out of this league we need to do that. At times last year, some of our play was fantastic. There’s no disrespect to anybody but we just didn’t find the net enough times last year.

“That wasn’t for the lack of trying but we have to address that and bringing people in like Matty (Blair) and (Liam) Henderson, hopefully we are doing that. Ash (Chambers) has signed as well so, yet again, another couple of pieces to the jigsaw.

“We are still looking to bring another couple in if we can. Time will tell.”

Gee added that manager Gary Mills intended to employ the same 4-3-3 formation he has regularly favoured since taking over at York last October and reckons new signing Blair will complement that approach.

He also added that improvements to the pitch – a new irrigation system has been installed and the surface is currently covered with sheets – should also help City with the attacking, passing play Mills wants to produce.

“We want to go with the same formation and go with a front five that are attacking and I think Matty fits that bill for us,” Gee explained. “We took him to the training ground, we showed him what we are trying to achieve here.

“The chairman is doing all the right things. The pitch – we have paid for these covers, and we have had the new sprinkler system put in and it shows we are trying to do things right. We want a pitch we can play football on and that’s part and parcel of what we are trying to achieve.”

Meanwhile, the capture of Blair has reportedly left Kidderminster fuming.

Chairman Mark Serrell has claimed no-one from Bootham Crescent contacted him before the midfielder’s departure which, given the two clubs will need to talk to agree a fee – with Harriers entitled to compensation as Blair is under the age of 24, has surprised the Aggborough outfit.

“I have no problem with Matty talking with other clubs but you would think that before York had announced his capture they would have spoken to us first,” said Serrell.

“We’ve offered him a good two-year deal and will be owed some compensation for him, so York need to talk to us.

“Also, it’s just common manners for someone from the club to pick up the phone and give me a call.”

No-one at City was available for comment.