BILLY McEwan was today eyeing up potential York City players after both Evan Horwood and Lee Andrews returned to their parent clubs.

Left-back Horwood, who has been filling in for the injured Nathan Peat, was yesterday afternoon recalled by Sheffield United, while Andrews opted to return to Carlisle United and scrap it out for a first team place despite fierce competition.

Their return follows Darlington's decision to recall centre-back David McGurk at the end of December.

The net result is just five fit defenders left at KitKat Crescent.

City boss McEwan said: "Horwood has been recalled but I thought Andrews might have stayed for a further month - maybe the rest of the season - so I'm a bit disappointed with that one. We all thought he was going to be staying here.

"I spoke to his manager (Paul Simpson) and he said he couldn't believe his decision as he's about a million miles away from getting back in but he wants to fight."

The players, who are without a game until next Saturday's Conference clash against Grays because of an early exit from the FA Trophy, have been given the weekend off.

McEwan, however, is stepping up his already intense search for defensive cover and was watching a match today with new defenders in mind.

Right-backs Jamie Price and Graeme Law are both injured, Stephen Baynes is on loan at Bishop Auckland and left-sided player Nathan Peat is still getting over a broken fibula, although he completed 90 minutes in a reserve friendly on Wednesday.

To make matters worse, McEwan will have to conduct his search with a begging bowl after learning that cash from the sale of Jon Parkin to Hull City from Macclesfield will be diverted directly into the loan repayment and other behind the scenes costs, rather than his playing budget.

He said: "It's understandable when the club's got debts it needs to pay. It would have been nice to get a little bit of money but unfortunately it can't be done."

Club managing director Jason McGill said: "We are delighted to have received a financial boost from the sale of Jon Parkin. This money will go towards club operations and the repayment of our loan interest to the Football Stadia Improvement Fund.

"Club finances continue to be tight and this will help ease our situation slightly, especially following our disappointing attendance on Tuesday against Stevenage."

Communications director Sophie McGill explained why the actual amount cannot be revealed. She said: "We are not able to announce the percentage fee because that was part of the initial agreement when the deal was struck with Macclesfield.

"We would like to tell people what it is but we can't."

Updated: 10:02 Saturday, January 14, 2006