York City boss Chris Brass goes into the busy Christmas period with a legitimate claim to being the country's top player-manager.

Brass' Minstermen are currently in a higher league position than any of the six other clubs managed by members of the playing staff and he has also accumulated more points this season than his counterparts.

The 28-year-old's achievements during his first campaign in the position are also made all the more impressive by the fact that he has played in more matches (21) than the other six chiefs.

Gary McAllister's recent decision to step down temporarily as Coventry boss and this week's departure of Andy Preece from Bury left the Nationwide League with just seven player-managers, while the Premiership seems to have now dismissed the notion that one man can combine playing and managerial duties at the very top level.

Brass is one of three of a rapidly dying breed in charge of Third Division clubs. The two others are John Taylor (Cambridge United) and Paul Simpson (Carlisle United).

Paul Groves (Grimsby) is the select group's sole representative in Division Two, while Dennis Wise (Millwall), Andy Hessenthaler (Gillingham) and Kit Symons (Crystal Palace) are in charge of Division One clubs.

Brass is four years younger than any of his rivals but is not the newest kid on the block.

Wise was handed his first chance to demonstrate the managerial skills he has nurtured under the likes of Glenn Hoddle, Gianluca Vialli and Ruud Gullit when he was named Millwall's player-boss in October.

Symons, the nearest to Brass in terms of age, is in his first post albeit on a temporary basis, having been handed the reins two months ago.

As well as occupying a loftier league position (11th) and accumulating more points (30) than any of the other seven player-managers, Brass is also one of three to have been sent off this season with Wise and Symons also receiving their marching orders.

Preece was the longest-serving player-manager having completed four years in the Gigg Lane hot-seat this month and he had also contributed more goals than any of his counterparts, netting a valuable six times in 18 matches.

Cambridge boss Taylor is the oldest of the seven at 39 but has still managed 11 games this season.

Victories, however, like any managerial position would appear to be the key to longevity as a player-boss.

Preece's departure means Gills manager Hessenthaler (182) has now been in charge of the most matches and he also boasts the best win percentage record, averaging a win every 2.8 games.

Brass (3.6) lies third behind Taylor (3.2) but the City chief fares better in terms of tasting defeat.

Under Brass, the Minstermen have only lost 36 per cent of their matches and only Wise (33.33 per cent) can claim a better ratio.

YORK City commercial manager Peter Salter had a royal appointment when he was invited to a Prince's Trust Christmas function at Arsenal's Highbury ground.

Salter met Prince Charles in recognition of the club's work with the charity and City's support was also recently mentioned in the House of Commons.

Rooms and facilities at Bootham Crescent have been used this year by the Prince's Trust and the club are just one of three professional football outfits in the country to back the programme aimed at giving 16-25-year-olds the opportunity to acquire new skills.

Copies of "York City...at the heart of the community" are still available at £3 a copy and will go on sale at the club shop from tomorrow.

The work and role of City's Trust is set out in the recent publication and has been distributed to all 2,000 members, as well as many bodies and figures in the local community and the national football community.

The Trust are also still looking for volunteers and fundraisers to help with the group's ongoing work.

The Supporters' Trust annual general meeting with its talk of the battle to stay at Bootham Crescent was certainly an uplifting event and, with Jack's beanstalk snaking around the Grand Opera House stage, all speakers must be congratulated on their refusal to use cheesy analogies of the 'reaching for the sky' variety.

What is certain is that a few magic beans would be welcome in helping City's fans realise their 'preferred option' of staying at their home ground and that Bootham Cresent Holdings director and former club chairman Douglas Craig remains the giant ogre in the eyes of most Minstermen supporters.

City supporters will be able to buy the latest issue of fanzine Ginner's Left Foot at the club's next three home games, starting tomorrow for the visit of Kidderminster Harriers.

It costs £1 and includes features on the ground situation as well as the thoughts of regular contributors.

Trust switch

THERE were three changes made to York City Supporters Trust's rules and regulations at this week's annual general meeting.

The requirement that the Trust secretary is also the club's secretary has been removed, meaning Stan Collins will relinquish at least one of the positions.

The Trust's board make-up was he subject of a minor change as well with the agreed number of co-opted members now "up to four" rather than "no less than four" and a vote decided that proposals for resolutions will now need two seconders rather than another option of nine.

Dazzling Darren

CAPTAIN Darren Edmondson won his first Evening Press player of the year points this season with a man-of-the-match display at Torquay.

Edmondson just edged out fellow wing-back Dave Merris with Chris Smith taking the other point available.

That means there was no change in the top seven places but the in-form Merris has now moved up to eighth.

Rankings: Dunning 30, Bullock 17, Nogan 14, Ovendale 14, Hope 12, Ward 10, Wood 10, Merris 8, Brass 6, Parkin 5, Smith 5, Wise 4, Edmondson 3, Cooper 2, Fox 1, George 1, Brackstone 1, Wilford 1.

Updated: 10:18 Saturday, December 20, 2003