A massive rallying-call to get York City back on track was made by sacked manager Alan Little today.

Away day: Alan Little says goodbye to midfielder Scott Jordan at Bootham Crescent today, above. Picture: Nigel Holland

Forum stunner: City chairman Douglas Craig discloses Alan Little's sacking at the fans' forum, right. Picture: Frank Dwyer

Despite the heart-break of the shock ending of his six-year tenure in charge of the Minstermen, Little pledged his loyalty to the club and re-affirmed his desire for them to succeed.

And he added that has was proud to have left the club a legacy of its longest ever stay in Division Two and a life-saving youth programme.

Little's command was terminated last night in dramatic style when his sacking was announced by chairman Douglas Craig in a sensational start to the second fans' forum.

But rather than hide away the ex-City manager returned to his one-time Bootham Crescent domain today to offer his best wishes to each player, first-team and youth team.

Said Little: "It's not my style to hide. I felt I had to go in and wish them all the best. It would have been too easy to stay away. But I have good relationships down there and I have made sure I have left with a smile on my face.

"The important thing is York City Football Club and now hopefully the players and the fans can respond and get together to get the right results to turn the situation around."

Little explained that task would not be easy. City now have 11 games left in which to complete a great escape. But he still had confidence in the players he had assembled that they would scramble clear of the relegation trapdoor.

As he surveyed the wreckage of his six-year reign in charge and almost five years before that as player-coach and assistant to both John Bird and John Ward, he said that his gamble on experience at the start of this season had back-fired. "The only problem with experience is evident when players don't play enough games, and that's what happened here," he said. "Steve Agnew was injured while Neil Thompson had his Achilles stripped. You just can't forecast that."

Away from that 'disappointment' this season Little was determined to recall the good things. Foremost was the development of young talent, which he believed had become a byword for York City. Rattling off the names of Jon McCarthy, Darren Williams, Graeme Murty, Scott Jordan, Jonathan Greening and, now in the side Richard Cresswell and Martin Garratt, he said their blossoming into senior players was one of the most satisfying aspects of his six years in charge.

"I have been delighted to have been a part of it and no-one can take that away from me. That is on my record and I am proud of that," he said.

And as a nod to the next generation coming through the ranks Little said he would be attending tonight's FA Youth Cup fifth round tie at home to West Ham as a supporter. "As many fans as possible should come along to watch these players," he said. "If they are interested they should be watching these players, because they are the future of the club. They are how a club like York City will survive."

see NEWS 'Little sacked'

see COMMENT 'Farewell to a man of honour'

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