York City will profit from any future sale if Jon Parkin leaves Macclesfield Town for a transfer fee.

Parkin is the country's leading scorer with six goals, having netted in all of the Moss Rose club's opening five fixtures.

His early-season success led to a Radio Five interview at the weekend and, if the 22-year-old striker continues his current form, a queue of prospective buyers could soon form.

Former Barnsley forward Parkin left Bootham Crescent in February on a free transfer and returned to score his first goal for his new club in a crucial victory for relegation rivals Macclesfield at York.

Fortunately, City's board had the foresight to insist on a sell-on clause and finance director Terry Doyle said: "There's a reasonable sell-on clause with Jon Parkin. They are very common in football today with the prevalence of free transfers and are becoming a standard procedure because there is so little cash around.

"At the time Jon left the club, it was clear that a move would benefit his career. Jon had had a disappointing season that had been compounded by injuries and issues with his fitness. The move was made in the best interests of Jon Parkin and York City Football Club."

Minstermen player-boss Chris Brass also confirmed that he has been in regular contact with Parkin since his Macclesfield move and revealed that the 6ft 2in striker would be happy if his success this season brought welcome money into the Bootham Crescent coffers.

Brass said: "I spoke to Jon prior to the season starting and he wished us all the best. I also called him last week and told him how pleased I was for him with the start he has made to the season.

"He's taken his opportunity and I told him he's got to carry on doing it on a consistent basis now, as this is the first time in his career he's done that.

"He still has a strong affinity with York City and was as saddened by anybody about last season's circumstances and having to move on. Now, he's happy knowing that by performing well he can also help York City."

Brass does not expect to make wholesale changes to his side for Saturday's trip to in-form Gravesend & Northfleet.

But the Minstermen manager is set to replace "one or two" players for the match against a team that are unbeaten in 15 games.

Brass admitted that nine players could not complain if they were dropped after the painful 3-0 home defeat against Hereford.

That will mean that every member of Saturday's starting line-up, bar midfield pair Darren Dunning and Paul Groves, will be fearing for their places even if most are given another chance to redeem themselves.

The City boss said: "We have worked on one or two things because we have got to improve and there will perhaps be one or two changes. People are fully aware that you have to be consistent.

"You accept that people will give bad performances but if you do that on a regular basis unfortunately you get dropped. You can't drop all nine players, who potentially could be after Saturday's display, and we have got to see how the players react at Gravesend."

Fit-again midfielder Kevin Donovan will be in contention for his City debut at Gravesend having returned to full training with no reaction to his injury this week.

Brass said: "Kevin will come into the squad for Saturday which is an added bonus. With another match on Tuesday against Accrington, I'm sure he'll feature at some stage and it will be pleasing to have him back because he's a natural winger."

Trialist Gerry Harrison, meanwhile, will be given more time to prove his worth after the postponement of the reserves' home match against Notts County on Monday night.

City's board will face supporters' questions at the Bootham Crescent Social Club tonight (7.30pm) at a Fans' Forum.

Updated: 11:22 Thursday, August 26, 2004