IF Chris Brass steers York City to promotion in his first season as player-boss then tomorrow's Division Three opponents Torquay United will have a valid claim that their club played a part in the young Minstermen manager's success.

Brass was given his first insight into the world of player-management when he made his Football League debut nine years ago under Don O'Riordan at Torquay during a loan spell from Burnley.

O'Riordan went on to become player-manager at Derry City and, having hung up his boots, is now in charge of Sligo Rovers.

And Brass admits that his experiences under the Irishman at Torquay have helped him make the switch from player to manager this season.

He said: "Don was a very good player and I got very friendly with him while I was there. He took me under his wing as a young lad and, although I have never really thought of it before now, gave me my first insight into player management.

"He had a very good footballing philosophy. He was a philosophical manager and pulled you over for a word rather than scream and bawl."

Brass was only 19 when O'Riordan selected him for Torquay's first team and the York manager is hoping to emulate the Irishman's commitment to developing youth at Bootham Crescent.

Defender Michael Staley, 16, has recently caught Brass' eye and the City boss said: "What Don had was young players believing in themselves which is something that I want to try and instil here and I think we are seeing that especially in the reserves' 4-3 win against Newcastle this week.

"Newcastle had a lot of international youngsters and I think the ones that came out with most credit for us were the young lads. Michael Staley's 16 but he came on at half-time and looked the most composed player out there.

"The reserves is a massive, massive step up for him but he does not look out of place. It does not seem to be phasing him and that's the sign of a good player.

"You can't get carried away and the lad has got a great deal to learn but he's had a hell of a start and the one person he's impressing is me and that's the person who matters. He's coming on in leaps and bounds."

Brass played ten games for the Gulls before returning to Burnley, where he stayed until signing for the Minstermen in March 2001.

But the 28-year-old defender admitted that he came very close to signing for the Devon club, saying: "I definitely considered going there. It was a fair trek from home but, at that time, a lot of lads were going there and getting sold.

"A couple of lads including Paul Trollope went to Derby and they asked Torquay whether they could sign me while I was there, which was bizarre because I was not their player but you get noticed there. There's always an abundance of scouts because they are known as a selling club.

"That was an attraction for me because I thought I could go there to progress. It was an option but it purely and simply boiled down to the fact that Burnley gave me an offer which I thought was reasonable and I got into the first team after coming back from Torquay.

"My gut reaction was to stay at Burnley because I believed in my ability to become a regular there and thankfully I did. Had I thought that I might not have been good enough I would have probably gone to Torquay."

Brass is also looking forward to meeting some old friends on Saturday despite leaving Plainmoor nearly a decade ago and only playing for the club for three months.

Assistant manager Richard Hancock played at Torquay during Brass' loan spell and he also remembers the chairman Mike Bateson, and physio Norman Medhurst.

The City boss will pay his annual visit to his former Torquay landlady as well and still has fond memories of his stay in Devon, saying: "They were good times and when I left we were fifth and just three points off the top. Unfortunately, they went on to miss out on the play-offs."

City midfielder Darren Dunning will also be returning to Plainmoor after his loan spell with the Gulls last winter.

Tomorrow's squads:

Division Three at Plainmoor

York City: Ovendale, Edmondson, Smith, Brass, Parkin, Merris, Brackstone, Dunning, Bullock, Nogan, Shaw. Subs: Porter, Law, Fox, Cooper, Browne.

Torquay (probable): Van Heusden, Canoville, Woods, Taylor, McGlinchey, Bedeau, Russell, Hockley, Fowler, Graham, Kuffour. Subs: Dearden, Wills, Bernard, Benefield, Camara.

Referee: Kevin Friend (Leicestershire)

Kick off: 3pm.

Updated: 11:13 Friday, December 12, 2003