YORK City wasted no time in replacing Neal Ardley this evening.

The early favourites to replace Ardley -revealed by BetVictor - included a former manager of the Minstermen.

But, in the event, the bookies were spectacularly wrong with City’s move for Worthing manager Adam Hinshelwood blindsiding the pundits.

Ardley was dismissed from his post as York manager on Monday afternoon after 34 matches, with City sitting precariously above the Vanarama National League relegation zone by just one point.

His tenure ending means that co-chairs Matt and Julie-Anne Uggla were looking to hire a third permanent manager of the season, with first-team coach Tony McMahon placed in temporary charge of the first-team.

BetVictor named current caretaker Tony McMahon, former boss - and fans’ favourite - John Askey and former player Russ Penn as favourites for the job.

But in a statement last night the club confirmed: “York City FC is delighted to announce the appointment of Adam Hinshelwood as the club’s new first team manager.

“The 40-year-old attack-minded manager joins the Minstermen on a long-term deal following over six-years at Worthing FC.”

Hinshelwood certainly has an enviable track record.

His Worthing side have racked up over 269 league goals since the beginning of the 2021/22 campaign.

Worthing issued a statement which said: “The club can confirm following recent discussions and the completion of the necessary paperwork, first team manager Adam Hinshelwood will leave his role to join York City Football Club as their new Head Coach, effective immediately.”

Worthing chairman Barry Hunter commented: “We appreciate that this will be disappointing news for everyone connected with Worthing Football Club”.

“However, Adam has been an incredibly successful and loyal manager to the club and we knew sooner or later he was going to attract the attention of clubs higher up the football pyramid. This is not the first approach we have had from clubs requesting permission to talk with Adam but despite their current league position, we recognise the credentials York City have and the career-changing opportunity this was for Adam.

“It is not lost on the club’s board that this is a challenging time to lose our manager. But Adam leaves us in a healthy league position, something we intend to capitalise on and we believe this was the right time to support him”.

A Football League defender by trade during his playing days, Hinshelwood boasts over 100 Brighton & Hove Albion appearances across the Championship and League One.

Spells at Aldershot and Wycombe in the Football League also followed for the central defender during a playing career hit by injury.

In 2013, Hinshelwood was appointed manager of the Rebels before leaving a couple years later to pursue a coaching role at Brighton & Hove Albion.

A return in 2017 has seen an Isthmian Premier Division title and a Sussex Senior Challenge Cup secured since, with Worthing now plying their trade in the National League South.

Hinshelwood’s promotion to the National League South was halted twice during both the 2019–20 and 2020–21 seasons, with their eventual promotion secured in 2022 after keeping up on their relentless title-winning form to complete a full season.

Hinshelwood also brings two key major staff members with him to the LNER Community Stadium, namely Gary Elphick and Cameron Morrison.

Thirty-eight-year-old Elphick joins the Minstermen from Worthing too as Hinshelwood’s assistant manager.

The former Brighton & Hove Albion defender signed for Worthing back in 2015 to work with Hinshelwood initially, however went on to steer the ship and win promotion from Isthmian League Division One South at the first attempt via the play-offs.

Elphick proceeded to repeat his feat of promotion from Isthmian League Division One South East with Hastings United, winning the title in 2022 before returning to Worthing in the summer of 2023.

Morrison also joins the Minstermen as Hinshelwood’s first team coach from Worthing. Morrison is qualified with a UEFA A license as well as a MSc degree in Performance Analysis and BSc degree in Football Coaching & Performance.