YORK CITY boss Nigel Worthington believes he is assembling a stronger squad than the one that surged to the League Two play-offs last season.

As the Minstermen manager welcomed his latest signing, Anthony Straker, to Bootham Crescent, he also confirmed the club's transfer spree was not yet at an end.

Back to work following a close season holiday, Worthington said: "I am a big believer in trying to get your business done early. While I have been away, Steve (Torpey, assistant manager) and the chairman have worked very hard to get the players in.

"Looking at the squad as it is at the moment, there is good experience there. We are a lot stronger than last year. That's only going to get even stronger. I would like to sign probably another two to three players just to give us a squad.

"Hopefully we can do that prior to the start of pre-season so that everybody is in, they get the work done that we will be doing over that course of time and everybody is up to speed ready for the start of the season."

Explaining why he had plumped for left midfielder Straker, who turned down a deal to stay at former club Southend United to move to North Yorkshire, Worthington said his pace and experience was key.

The City chief also said he wanted to get players on permanent deals to play in the wide positions, having had loan stars Will Hayhurst and Ryan Brobbel operating on the flanks last season.

"We needed contracted players in the wide areas knowing that Josh isn't going to around for us probably until Christmas time," Worthington added.

"It was important to strengthen in those areas and take a player of Anthony's quality and league experience. He's got 300 games under his belt and, at the age of 25, that's a big thing.

"The things we are looking for are pace, quality to deliver a good cross into the box and he has scored seven goals last season. If he can go and repeat that, along with his performances over the course of 47 plus games, then he is going to be a huge benefit to us.

"That's why we have targeted him and, thankfully, we got him.

"We moved very quickly when we knew he wasn't overly happy with the offer at Southend and he is here now. "

And, in sharp contrast to some of his predecessors, supporters should not expect Worthington to field trialists during City's run of pre-season matches.

He explained: "I am not a big believer in trialists. I think trialists can detract away from what you are doing. I work with contracted players. We get targets, we will try and add to (the squad) and we will be looking to do that over the next two to three weeks."