RELEASED York City midfielder Lewis McMahon is "gutted" at not being given an opportunity to fully display his talents at KitKat Crescent.

McMahon was one of eight players freed by City boss Billy McEwan this week but feels he leaves the club with plenty still to offer.

The 22-year-old playmaker only managed eight Conference starts for the Minstermen with his last on January 27 when he scored his only goal for the club - a spectacular long-range effort in the 2-2 home draw with Grays.

His final appearance in a City shirt came as a substitute during the 1-0 defeat against Stevenage at the end of March but he then failed to make the bench during the club's last eight matches.

About his KitKat Crescent career, McMahon said: "We did have a good team but, towards the back half of the season, if anyone went to see me playing for the reserves they will have seen me stand out.

"I was scoring quite a few goals and doing really well. I also lost a stone in weight and did everything the gaffer asked of me so I was a bit gutted not to get a chance to do it in the first team."

McMahon admitted, though, that his failure to make McEwan's retained list did not shock him.

He added: "I was disappointed but it never came as a surprise really. I've not been involved in the squad and I really knew in myself that it was coming.

"In fact, I don't know what I would have done if I had been offered a contract because I don't know whether there would have been much point in staying."

McMahon was released by Notts County last summer after making 29 appearances during the 2005/2006 season for the League Two outfit.

Prior to that, he had played 31 times for his first club Sheffield Wednesday and, while hopeful of a return to the Football League, the 5ft 9in midfielder has one target in mind.

"I need somewhere where I can play football," he said. "When I play football regularly I am a good player and I realise now what I need to do in order to play well. Hopefully, I can do that at a new team.

"I've spoken to a few clubs and they have invited me in for pre-season.

"It would be nice to get back into the Football League but I will see what comes along."

McMahon also revealed how the news that he was to be surplus to requirements at City was broken to him.

He said: "The manager thanked us for our efforts as a group and then told us that some of us would be offered new deals and some wouldn't so I found out through a letter that was sent in the post, which was a bit disappointing really. I thought it might have been done in person."