YORK City boss Russ Wilcox plans to continue forging links with opening pre-season opponents Middlesbrough next season.

The beaten Championship play-off finalists will visit Bootham Crescent on Saturday, July 11 (kick-off 12noon), with former City loan players Ben Gibson and Brad Halliday possibly in the visitors' ranks.

Wilcox remains hopeful that 19-year-old right back Halliday will return to City on the same terms next season and would be delighted to recruit further under-21 talents from the Riverside Stadium.

Recently-released Boro winger Ryan Brobbel, who spent a loan spell in North Yorkshire during 2013/14, is another example of the Minstermen's close relationship with the 2006 Europa League finalists.

And with Newcastle and Sunderland just up the A1 as well, Wilcox is keen to establish positive associations with the Premier League duo too.

Newcastle will visit Bootham Crescent on Wednesday, July 29, while Wilcox has identified 21-year-old striker Duncan Watmore – who has previously been loaned out to Hibernian – as an example of the potential within Sunderland's ranks.

On the visit of Boro, the City chief said: "It's another great fixture and an important one that continues the bit of a tie-up we have established with Middlesbrough.

"The chairman gets on with a lot of people there and I know (former City midfielder and current Boro assistant head coach) Steve Agnew really well, who has obviously got his York connections too.

"Hopefully, we can have a look at their players again next season because we're only 40 miles away and they've got some good young players, as last season showed with Brad Halliday.

"I also know Kevin Bond from Sunderland and they've got some good young players too, with Watmore somebody who jumps out at you.

"It's very important we forge links with the clubs local to us because of the quality they have in their squads.

"The loan market proved very useful last season and, hopefully, we can add one or two on the same basis next season."

On which dressing room Halliday is likely to occupy come the second Saturday in July, Wilcox added: "I'm not sure who Brad will be playing for that day.

"It's still a work in progress on our side and the chairman has his connections at Middlesbrough, so we're both trying hard to make it happen. We'll have to wait and see but I would love to have him back."

Adult prices for the Boro game have been set at £12, allowing supporters to sit or stand in any of the three home sections of the ground, with the same conditions applying to all concessions, who will be charged £6.

City's current pre-season schedule is: Saturday, July 11 - Middlesbrough (home, 12noon); Tuesday, July 14 - Darlington 1886 (away, 7pm); Wednesday, July 29 - Newcastle United (home, 7.45pm); Saturday, August 1 - FC Halifax Town (away, 3pm).