BILLY McEwan will have to secure Nationwide Conference safety with the current crop of York City players unless he can "wheel and deal" in the transfer market.

City's managing director Jason McGill confirmed yesterday that the club's wage bill will remain full until the end of the season although McEwan has been encouraged to utilise any contacts he has in the game to attract new faces.

McGill said: "At this moment in time, the budget has been used. It was used by Chris Brass and there's not really anything left but we might be able to bring in one or two faces to shake it up with some wheeling and dealing and Billy utilising his contacts."

Updated: 10:28 Friday, February 11, 2005