NEW striker Oli Johnson said a gut feeling told him that York City was where his football future lay.

The 24-year-old free agent has signed a one-year contract, with an option to extend, at the club following his release from the Minstermen’s League Two rivals Oxford United at the end of last season.

Having begun his career at Nostell Miners Welfare, Wakefield-born Johnson has played in the Football League at Stockport, Norwich, Yeovil and the Us and reckons he has now found a perfect fit at Bootham Crescent.

Johnson said: “From meeting the chairman and Darron (Gee, assistant manager) it has been pretty smooth. Once I had spoken to them, this was the only place I wanted to be. There had been a bit of interest but our meeting was really positive and I was impressed with what they had to say.

“I had a gut feeling this was the right place to play my football. I feel I have got a lot to offer in the League and, hopefully, I can do that with York City.”

He added: “The chairman (Jason McGill) seems a great character and it is refreshing to see someone so enthusiastic.

“It is contagious – the way he is about football. Darron had a lot of positive things to say about the club and how it is run – the team spirit – and it seems like there are a lot of good people here.

“I had a positive mindset and I just have a feeling this is the right place for me. Hopefully, it will prove the right decision.”

Having represented the Canaries and The Glovers in higher divisions, Johnson isn’t prepared to settle for League Two status in his time with the Minstermen.

A versatile player, he said he is comfortable in manager Gary Mills’ favoured 4-3-3 formation but knows he will have work to do to dislodge the play-off and FA Trophy-winning combination of Ashley Chambers, Jason Walker and Matty Blair.

“I am hoping to be part of the progression here,” Johnson said.

“Everyone wants to push on in their career and it would be nice if I could do that with York. As long as I am here, I’m only going to be thinking about doing well for York City and the coming season.

“I like to play in a 4-3-3. I am quite versatile.

“I am not an out-and-out striker. I have played a lot of my career out wide or in the hole behind the striker. I’d like to think I could offer quite a lot in a variety of positions.

“I’ve got to try to earn my place in the side.

“I am not under any illusions that I am going to come here and just walk into the team. That’s not going to be the case at all. I am going to have to work hard and earn my spot.

“But I am confident in my own ability and, in my head, I have come here to play. It’s only a good thing to have a lot of competition. It’s healthy for the team and it drives you on. There’s going to be no complacency.”

Gee said: “He’s the kind of player we are trying to attract.

“We had a fantastic chat with him last week, he went to the training ground and came to Bootham Crescent.

“We told him the way we play and the way we want to do things and he went away and within a couple of hours he wanted to sign for the football club.

“I think it’s a fantastic statement for us and we are very excited. He can play on the right or the left side. He can play down the middle and brings another dimension to us as we go into League football.

“If you look at his pedigree and where he has been, it is a fantastic acquisition for the football club.

“We have been patient and it has paid dividends for us to bring him in.”