TERRY Dolan's victory in court this week might feel slightly hollow this morning if the former York City manager values the reaction from Minstermen fans.

Any sympathy from the Bootham Crescent terraces that may have been offered in Dolan's direction following his dismissal in the summer is now unlikely to be lasting judging by phone calls to the Evening Press and our post bag.

The ex-Hull and Bradford boss' successful claim that he is entitled to win bonuses for the team's results under his successor Chris Brass this season has not been met with approval by City supporters.

A Leeds tribunal heard that City's case was "weak and of little substance" from a legal point of view but the club's board rightly questioned the moral issue which is akin to a sacked Nestl Rowntree worker being paid for his successor's overtime for the next 12 months.

It just does not happen in the real world!

But Dolan's case highlights the same footballing contractual nonsense that dictates the under-performing Robbie Fowler can continue to receive salaries from two different clubs

Now, aside from Dolan's £1,300, City are also facing a bill for this season's bonuses claimed by Adie Shaw, who was also relieved of his assistant-manager duties in the summer.

Shaw was unable to attend the Leeds tribunal as he is currently in the Caribbean managing the St Vincent's national team, but a settlement of £800 seems likely.

Legally both are entitled to their payments but their reputations, at least in York, have been irretrievably tarnished by their insistence that the club, whose supporters struggled heroically to raise £500,000 to prevent extinction, hand over the bonus money as well as continuing to honour the final year of Dolan's contract.

ELSEWHERE, well-wishers continue to express their relief and delight that York City will be staying at Bootham Crescent.

Former City legend Jon McCarthy became the latest - even though he heard the news a little late.

The right-winger, who notched up more than 200 starts for City over two spells and last ran out for the Minstermen in November 2002, was on holiday when the announcement was made so did not find out until he called the Evening Press sports desk back on Tuesday.

He said: "I had heard lots of rumours but now I know that it's real.

"I am delighted because I was worried about how the move to Huntington was going to effect the club.

"I didn't know if the facilities down at the rugby club were going to be good enough and to me it was a sign that the club was in trouble and the only way was down.

"But hearing this is brilliant. It's a massive boost for everybody - for the fans and the players - and it is nice to know that whenever I visit York City, it will be on the same pitch that I used to run out on."

McCarthy is now playing for UniBond Premier division leaders Hucknall Town but hopes to visit Bootham Crescent before the end of the season.

RICHARD Hope is tied for third place in the Evening Press Player of the Year standings.

Centre-back Hope was the Minstermen's man-of-the-match against Hull and is now level with goalkeeper Mark Ovendale and Lee Nogan, who also picked up a point for his goal-scoring performance at the KC Stadium.

Chris Smith was awarded with the remaining two points.

STANDINGS: Dunning 33, Bullock 21, Hope 18, Ovendale 18, Nogan 18, Merris 11, Ward 10, Wood 10, Edmondson 8, Smith 8, Brass 7, Parkin 5, Cooper 4, Wise 4, Brackstone 1, Fox 1, George 1, Shaw 1, Wilford 1.

Updated: 10:15 Saturday, February 14, 2004