YORK City’s new left-back Danny Blanchett believes Burton Albion’s decision to release him has resulted in a “step up” for his career.

Blanchett was told he was free to leave the Pirelli Stadium after making just 16 appearances for the Brewers last season.

But, with Burton only finishing 17th in last season’s League Two standings and boasting an average attendance of 2,809, which was lower than the Minstermen’s 3,000-plus following during last season’s promotion-winning campaign, Blanchett feels his failure to earn a new deal in Staffordshire has led to better things.

On his move to Bootham Crescent, the 25-year-old defender said: “It’s a great step up for my career. I seem to be on the same wavelength as the manager because he wants to play football and it’s a clean slate for me at a new club so I want to try and get us as high as we can in the league or promoted if possible.

“There was a bit of other interest in me but this is a big club with a big fan base and it’s important to make the right decisions. I believe I’ve done that by coming to York.

“When I spoke to the gaffer and his assistant Darron Gee they just sold the club to me and it’s where I want to be. I’ve seen the team play because I watched them in the play-off final and they have always been knocking on the Football League door for the last few years so I feel it’s a good place to come and play football.”

Whereas Burton have struggled to build on their 2009 Conference title-winning campaign as a Football League outfit, Blanchett points to Stevenage, their successors as Blue Square Bet Premier champions, as an example of how promotion from non-League football can provide a platform for further achievements.

The former Peterborough full-back, pictured, now reckons his new team can use the Hertfordshire side as an inspiration as they target League Two honours.

He added: “For me, my ambition is to cement my place in the team at left-back and play as many games as I can this season. As for the team, we are a newly-promoted side so staying in the League is the main priority but, with the way we play and the talent that is at the club, we should be fine because there is not much difference between the Conference and League Two.

“If you look at Stevenage, they came out of the Conference and then went straight into League One before reaching the play-offs for the Championship last season and I think we can kick on too.”

Having started out as a semi-pro with home-town team Harrow Borough, Hendon and Cambridge City, Blanchett was given his first chance of League football by Peterborough in 2007 but it is at Crewe, during 2010/11, where he made the biggest impression, playing 44 games that season.

With City sharing a similar football philosophy to that synonymous with Gresty Road, Blanchett also believes that can help him flourish, saying: “Crewe were regarded as the footballing team of League Two. They got promoted, which was great for them and I prefer to play football rather than kick and run.”