HAMZA Bencherif placed himself out of the range from potential rival suitors in Algeria ahead of returning from holiday to commit his future to York City.

The 29-year-old defender was unreachable in the country where he won seven under-21 international caps, but wasn't interested in taking calls from other clubs once he knew boss Gary Mills wanted to retain his services at Bootham Crescent.

Last summer, Bencherif was lured to Wrexham, who were then managed Mills, after Halifax had been relegated from the National League.

But, despite the same fate befalling the Minstermen in April, Bencherif’s mind was fixed before he went away for a break in Africa.

He said: “I’ve been a senior player for a few years now, so know a lot of people at different clubs, including managers and players. But, from the last game of the season, I went away with the intention of coming back here.

“I never doubted or questioned that. The club wanted me to stay and I didn’t answer my phone over the break.

“I was in Algeria where I had no internet or signal and, when I came back, I signed straight away.”

Bencherif went on to explain that Mills’ decision to stay in North Yorkshire and the collective desire of most of his team-mates to follow suit was the main reason he wanted to carry on playing for the club.

From the turn of the year, City displayed top-ten form before suffering final-day relegation and, having joined the Minstermen in mid-January whilst also going on to enjoy FA Trophy final success at Wembley, Bencherif believes the squad that ended the campaign can still prosper in non-League football.

Having joined the likes of fellow out-of-contract trio Jon Parkin, Adriano Moke and Sam Muggleton in putting pen to paper for 2017/18, Bencherif added: “Staying is something that we’ve all been thinking and talking about together as a group since the last game of the season.

“Even though we finished on a sour note in the league, I’m really excited because, as players, along with a few new faces, we feel we can still do something special for the club and want to put things right. We all had that in mind.

“Relegation didn’t change my views on staying here, because it’s a good club and everything is staying the same. The training facilities are great and everything is in place for a professional set-up.

“As players, therefore, not a lot changes. We will still be looking to win football matches.

“Everybody wanting to stay together, including the gaffer, staff and players, was a big factor in me signing a new contract. If that hadn’t been the case, I would have felt differently.

“But nearly everybody wants to see what we can do together for another year.”

Having suffered an unusual double-double of relegation and FA Trophy final success during back-to-back seasons with Halifax and the Minstermen, Bencherif is unequivocal in his targets for the forthcoming campaign.

“Promotion is the aim – no doubt,” he insisted. “We’re not looking at anything else.

“A lot of clubs put too much pressure on themselves, but we must have that confidence that we can win every game.”

Bencherif’s signature means the Minstermen now have five experienced players capable of operating in a back three, which was Mills’ preferred defensive line up for the majority of last season.

The others are Yan Klukowski (30), Sean Newton (28), Matt Fry (26) and Clovis Kamdjo (26).

Fellow centre-backs Jack Higgins and Ben Clappison are also on the books, but remain transfer-listed, while last season’s 31-year-old loan signing Dan Parslow is still a target.

On the potential competition for places at the back, Bencherif reasoned: “They’re all quality players and all senior players who are professional and have been around for a while. You want that in your team and around you.”

The former Macclesfield and Lincoln defender admitted too that he is wanting to make more of an impression for City at the other end of the pitch in National League North, having failed to open his account during his first 21 matches for the club.

Bencherif has a respectable 28 career goals to his name and confessed: “I was upset by my lack of a goal, as my scoring record has usually been good during my career and I missed a few sitters that I’m still having nightmares about.

“I’m sure it will just be a matter of getting that first one and, then, they will come. Strikers obviously build their reputation on goals but, even though I’m a defender, every player wants to contribute.”

City have confirmed that they will travel to Grantham Town for a pre-season friendly on Saturday, July 22, kick-off 3pm.