Veteran goalkeeper Bobby Mimms has been told by York City that he can leave the club.

His contract runs out at the end of the season, and City boss Terry Dolan has said that it will not be renewed - in a playing capacity at least.

The 36-year-old stopper had been given an additional coaching role at the club by former manager Neil Thompson, and Dolan said he might remain as part of the backroom staff.

However, the boss stated: "We will not be keeping him (Mimms) on as a player at the end of the season. We told him this once we had signed Alan Fettis.

"If he would like to stay on as a coach it is something we can discuss. But he can go elsewhere before the end of the season. If someone else is looking for a goalkeeper, we're not going to stand in his way."

He added: "He is spending his time at the moment coaching. Whether he stays on in that role is something we can think about."

The writing was on the wall for Mimms the player as soon as Dolan confirmed he was on the look-out for more goalkeeping cover.

The former Everton, Tottenham and Blackburn custodian suffered a thigh injury against Plymouth last month - Dolan's first game in full charge - and has not featured on the pitch since.

He was replaced then by promising teenager Russ Howarth, who kept his place the following week in the 0-0 draw with Exeter, for which Mimms was handed a place on the bench.

But now both have seen Northern Ireland international Fettis take over the number one jersey.

Dolan has brought four new players to Bootham Crescent, including Fettis, since taking over as manager last month. But, apart from giving Mimms freedom to go, he said he is not looking to off-load anyone else - yet.

"At this stage, we need as many players here as we can have," he said.

However, there are five players, in addition to Mimms, whose contracts run out in the summer, and whether the club will offer each of them a new deal is yet to be decided.

But Dolan will not be messing around. "A decision regarding each one will be made over the next few weeks," he said.

"I won't be waiting until the end of the season before we tell them whether they will be offered new contracts or allowed to find new clubs."

These players include Barry Jones, Graham Rennison, Steve Walters, James Turley and Wayne Hall.

The unluckiest of these could well be left-back Hall, who is well into his testimonial season with the Minstermen.

He has suffered an injury nightmare this term, and has had no chance as yet to show the new manager what he can do.

He received a further set-back to an ongoing heel problem this week, and will have yet another meeting with the specialist tomorrow.

Dolan said: "There has not been much change since he had an injection in his heel last Tuesday. There's been no improvement since then.

"He is obviously annoyed about it but there is nothing we can do. He's going to have to be patient."

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