YORK City chief Terry Dolan today announced third year trainees Scott Emmerson, Kieran Darlow, Marc Salvati and Ben Rhodes will not be offered professional terms for next season.

The decision means striker Emmerson, wingers Darlow and Salvati and midfielder Rhodes - who have all played in the first team - are now free to find other clubs.

Read Dolan's reasons for releasing the quartet in the Evening Press and on www.thisisyork.co.uk tomorrow.

On Wednesday night, Emmerson played for Darlington's reserves in their 1-0 win over Grimsby Town but it is understood the Quakers will not be following up their interest in the young striker.

Emmerson, 19, has made six substitute appearances this season but has not started a first-team City game.

He sprung to prominence last season when he scored the winner at Rochdale on his full debut. It was his only senior goal but lifted City off the bottom of the Football League and helped them claw clear of relegation.

Darlow, also 19, made his senior debut as a 17-year-old and while still a first-year trainee. However, he made just one substitute appearance last season and has started just one senior game this season, against Scunthorpe in November.

Fellow winger Salvati, 19, has made seven substitute appearances this season and scored in 2-1 defeat at Carlisle, the only game he started, back in September.

Rhodes, 18, has made just one first-team appearance, coming on as a substitute in the 3-1 defeat at Darlington back in December.

With the quartet being shown the door, following Chris Gowen, Gary Ormston and Adam Russell, who were released last season, and Peter Vasey, who was cut free earlier this year, it means only Wood and goalkeeper John Collinson of the 1999 trainee intake have been offered professional terms for next season.

Wood and Wise are both expected to take their place in City squad to face Swansea tomorrow while Collinson will be drafted into the squad for next Tuesday's game against Carlisle as Russ Howarth will be on England Under-20 duty.

It has been confirmed City skipper Chris Brass will be suspended for the Minstermen's last two games of the season.

Brass picked up his tenth booking of the season in the 1-0 win over Oxford, meaning he will banned for the home game with Bristol Rovers on April 16 and the match at Scunthorpe on April 20.

Although there was an amnesty in February for players with four or less bookings, the amnesty for ten bookings does not come into effect until the second Sunday in April.

The saving grace for City is the fact the Bristol Rovers game is a rearranged tie ensures Brass will be available for the first game of next season.

Updated: 16:18 Thursday, April 04, 2002