Frustrated at Cup exit

If you get outplayed and beat in the right manner then you can accept it.

But we did everything possible against Brentford and in the second half chucked just about everything we had to offer at them.

To get no reward and to fall to such a sucker punch - I think they only had two chances in the second half - was really disappointing.

It hurt, and that pain was made worse because we all knew the financial implications that a place in the third round and a good Cup run would bring.

In the dressing room, everyone was very frustrated and it would be fair to say there were a few heated words exchanged.

I think, however, that proves just how far this squad of players has come in recent months.

The frustration was because we fully expected to win the game. We weren't arrogant or over-confident, but as a squad we just feel we can now get a result from every game we play in.

The disappointment from losing a game we should have won and from missing out on the money we could have made for the club has been softened somewhat by our position in the league.

Last year, our FA Cup run kept our season alive but that is not quite the case this time around.

The Cup, as welcome as a good run is, can sometimes prove to be a distraction.

We were never going to win the FA Cup but, in terms of promotion possibilities in the League, we are handily placed as we get ready for the busy festive season.

We have just got to believe in ourselves, and if we can believe in ourselves just a little bit more then I am sure we can go on to bigger and better things.

With regard to the off-field problems currently surrounding the club, it seems to have gone very quiet at the moment.

The insolvency practitioners are currently going through everything at the club and, once they have done that, I am sure they will sit the players down and explain just what the situation is.

The Professional Footballers' Association are also due to send in their legal guys over the next week or so to have a look at the situation.

I am sure they will have a meeting with us soon to explain what is going on, what can be done and just what kind of future the club has.

The PFA agreed last week to step in with a package to help with our wages this month but we really don't know what the future holds, and whether the club will be able to pay us next month is another matter.

Hopefully, things can be resolved and a bright new chapter will dawn for the club.

Throughout all the uncertainty, the lads have tried to stay positive and that is all we can do.

We have a busy few weeks coming up and we have just got to get our heads down and concentrate on the games coming up.

We are all sticking together and that has perhaps been the one saving grace - we are all together now more than ever. Everyone wants to play for York City and there is no-one looking to jump ship just as the going gets tough.

Looking for more positives, we have an empty physio room at the moment.

In fact, Jeff Miller, our physio, was even able to come down to the training ground this week and do some training alongside the players because he had no-one to treat.

With everyone fit, I think we have a very strong squad and when you look at the bench and see some of the faces there, then that does give you a gee-up to keep performing.

I think a lot of the lads on the bench at the moment would walk into most teams at this level.

We have also got a good mix of experience and youth, which is important for any team wanting to be successful.

In another boost, it is great to have Christian Fox and Richard Cooper both fit again after long spells on the sidelines.

I thought Christian did really well on Saturday and in the second half he really made a difference.

'Coops' is chomping at the bit to get back into the first team and I'm sure it won't be long before he is back in the side.

To have both players available is almost like having two new signings - and it couldn't have come at a better time.

Updated: 11:19 Thursday, December 12, 2002