I CANNOT write this column without mentioning our performance at Bury on Tuesday night.

Just when we seem to be getting there and are back moving in the right direction we produce arguably our worst performance, if you can even call it a performance, to date.

It's not what I expect as manager of York City and not what I expect from a team from York City.

I'm not looking for any excuses, only solutions.

I'm aware of one or two areas we will have to change in order to make sure it won't happen again and I'm looking for a response on Saturday.

On the subject of changes, we have brought in Dean Crowe on loan from Luton and I'm sure he will do a job for us.

However, while we have been able to bring in Dean, the financial constraints at the club means it is no long possible for a club like York City to go out and spend money in an attempt at a quick fix.

Of course, we are always looking but it now requires other clubs to help us out to a certain extent and we are fortunate Luton have done so with regards to Dean.

If we want to bring people in we cannot just got out and get whoever we want, we also need clubs to play ball.

That's how things have to be at the moment, finances are that tight in football generally.

Our financial situation has been particularly well documented in the Evening Press of late.

It was also announced earlier this week the club is increasing admission prices by a £1 for adults.

In a perfect world you would reduce prices and I'm sure the decision has not been taken lightly.

It is unfortunate we find ourselves in this situation where prices have gone up but our hands are tied.

The club's money problems are not something we are just having to deal with, it is something we are having to rectify.

It is something we have inherited and it is something that is going to take time in order that we balance the books.

As it is, we just have to accept it. We know what the situation is and we just have to make sure we continue to operate as carefully, as we have been doing.

The fact of the matter is we are operating on a vastly reduced budget and the wage levels are a third of what they were just last season.

That has made things very difficult in terms of recruitment and numbers and we have had to be very shrewd.

Ultimately, our main goal is making sure York City survives.

If we aren't careful and prudent it could be that the club finds itself in the horrible predicament it found itself last season, when the club tottered on the brink of extinction.

No one wants that.

The Supporters' Trust board and the football club board have all voted in favour of increasing the admission price for adults and have seen the necessity for doing this.

At least they are not trying to pull the wool over anyone's eyes or are trying to hide anything from their fellow supporters.

We have to be open, honest and frank about the club's finances, especially because the reason the club was in so much trouble last season was because people were not always so frank and open.

Of course, there is no sense of panic. But there is a long way to go before this club is operating how I expect a football club to operate.

Everybody is pulling in the right direction and being as professional as they can within our means.

Because of that, I am sure there will come a time when the club's finances are healthy.

Updated: 10:25 Thursday, October 02, 2003