Cup draw favours Halifax and Guiseley
YORK CITY’S new management team is targeting promotion and an end to the damaging cycle that has dragged the club down in recent years.
Martin Gray succeeded Gary Mills as manager over the weekend following the Minstermen’s FA Cup third round qualifying exit at South Shields.
Forty-six-year-old Gray, who led Darlington to three promotions before quitting over the weekend, is joined by sporting director Dave Penney, the former Doncaster Rovers chief, at Bootham Crescent.
“This is the right time in my career,” said Gray, a former Sunderland and Oxford United midfielder. “A club of this size and the fan base brings the challenge I exactly need at this time. York are a Football League club and our job is to take them back there.
“I didn’t take any convincing. This was the right thing to do. York have some good players, but we need to improve things. The club is in a healthy position, but there is room for improvement.”
York, who occupy the final play-off place in National League North, host Brackley this weekend and Gray, recommended for the post by former England chief Steve McClaren, hopes to bring in up to three new signings ahead of his bow as manager.
Penney, assistant manager at Guiseley on the final day of last season when the Leeds club pipped York to safety in the fifth tier, added: “We have to go for promotion. York City should not be at this level. The cycle has been going down for too long and we have to get that going the other way.”
The former Doncaster chief left Nethermoor in the wake of manager Adam Lockwood’s dismissal in late August by the National League club.
On his job description after being reunited with Gray, Penney added: “It is a different role to what I am used to. I come in and have an overview of the club, see where we can improve it. I will use my experience to help Martin and, hopefully, get the club going forward again.” YORKSHIRE’S two representatives in the top flight of nonLeague football have both been handed home ties in the FA Cup fourth qualifying round.
FC Halifax Town will host Tranmere Rovers in the last stage before the League One and Two clubs enter, while Guiseley will welcome Evo-Stik Division One outfit Shildon to Nethermoor.
Elsewhere, Shaw Lane Association, fresh from the weekend victory over Lancaster City, stand just one more win from a maiden appearance in the first round proper, but the Evo-Stik Premier leaders will face a tough test at home to Barrow.
Harrogate Town, the only other White Rose side definitely through after beating Bradford Park Avenue, will also have home advantage against either Leamington or Gainsborough, who meet tonight in a replay.
Scarborough Athletic, back in the resort town this term after a decade away, are also in replay action tonight at Stratford Town and Hyde await the winners in the next round.
Ossett Town and Northwich, who shared four goals in a thrilling tie at the weekend, also meet tonight for the right to travel to Solihull Moors.
South Shields, conquerors of York City last Saturday, will host Hartlepool United in what is arguably the pick of the ties in the northern section of the draw. The clash between former Football League members, Dagenham & Redbridge and Leyton Orient is one of the highlights in the southern half along with Aldershot’s home tie with Torquay United.
The ties will be played on the weekend of October 14 and 15.