FORMER York City defender Ray Warburton has warned York City that it will be difficult to bounce back from relegation at the first time.

Although he feels the Conference is not as strong as some observers might claim he does not expect the Minstermen to find it easy.

Warburton, who only just missed out on promotion to the Football League in the play-offs with Aldershot on Sunday said: "It's a long time since I was there but it still makes me sad and It's such a shame they went into freefall. Hopefully, they will bounce back but it's a tough league with 14 or 15 full-time clubs now.

"It will be a big call for York but if you do it right you have got a chance. The Conference is the same as any other League. You need a mixture of pace, experience and organisation as well as somebody who can put the ball in the net and a good team spirit."

Updated: 10:56 Tuesday, May 18, 2004