York City's players should shoulder most of the blame for the sacking of manager Chris Brass reckons skipper Darren Dunning.

The midfielder said: "I think we as players let him down."

Brass was yesterday relieved of his managerial duties in the wake of miserable form this season, culminating in a 3-1 defeat at home to struggling Forest Green Rovers on Saturday, with assistant manager Viv Busby appointed as caretaker manager.

Brass, who has been kept on as a player, was speaking to the squad at City's training ground today and has received a ringing endorsement from Dunning.

"As a manager I think Chris did everything he possibly could. He is one of the best man-managers I have ever come across," said Dunning.

"But when you cross that whitewash it has got to be down to the players to do the business - and for whatever reason we have not."

The Malton-based Clubman of the Year added: "It is important now that we give Viv Busby all the help we can because we are looking at a relegation fight at the moment. We have got to pull our fingers out and do it on the pitch."

Dunning's sentiments were echoed by injured club captain Steve Davis, who believes Brass will bounce back from the experience.

The centre-half said: "I'm obviously disappointed. I've spoken to Chris and he's disappointed. It's a sad day for him and his family and I also think it's a sad day for York City. But he's big enough and strong enough and he will take it and he will use the experience to his advantage.

"I think there is definitely a sense of responsibility among the players. The manager has a job to prepare the team as best he can. Everybody's got their jobs that they need to focus on and if they don't fulfil them then there is little he can do.

"I think he is disappointed from that point of view. As a team as a whole, we have under-achieved, but unfortunately it has all been laid at Chris's feet."

He added: "I think the players will feel exactly the same disappointment as me. He was very popular and he had got a good backroom staff together. Everyone was 100 per cent behind what he was doing and he had the respect of all the lads because he was a true professional.

"Things like this happen in football. Chris will have gone into the job knowing that this day would come eventually.

"It's something that everyone will have to cope with but I am sure they will for the club, and hopefully Chris will want to stay on as a player.

"He was also working under difficult circumstances financially. He's had a budget to work to which has limited him. It makes life much harder, especially when you have got so many injuries. I am sure he would have liked to have brought someone in but he couldn't.

"It's disappointing but I think Chris can walk away knowing that he has given it his best shot."

Updated: 11:24 Tuesday, November 09, 2004