RICHARD CRESSWELL and Jonathan Greening have both left struggling York City by mutual consent.

Cresswell, 38, a fans' favourite in his spells at Bootham Crescent as a player, was head of football operations and first-team coach.

Greening, 36, was a youth team coach and had come out of retirement last month to help bolster the team's midfield options, only to receive a red card in his third game back.

A club statement said: "York City Football Club can reveal that head of football operations/first team coach Richard Cresswell and development phase coach Jonathan Greening have left Bootham Crescent by mutual consent.

"Everyone at the football club would like to thank Richard and Jonathan for their contributions since returning to York City."

The duo's departures follow that of goalkeeping coach Andy Leaning, who was replaced last week by Craig Hinchliffe, who had previously worked with manager Jackie McNamara at Partick Thistle and Dundee United.

Only this week, veteran midfielder Greening - who went on to grace the Premier League with Manchester United, West Brom and Fulham after first bursting onto the scene at Bootham Crescent in 1996 - had offered to carry on playing until the end of the season.

He had been lured out of retirement by McNamara after more than a year out of the professional game but was sent off at Portsmouth three weeks ago. His three-game ban was to end after Saturday’s home match with Morecambe, with Greening saying he did not want his playing career to finish on such a low.

“I’m not looking for any extra money and I’m just happy to be used on a non-contract basis,” he had told The Press. “It was nice to be called in by the manager.

“When I got sent off, the manager said there’s nothing we can do about it other than wait for you to be available again on Boxing Day.

“He’s been great and said he wants to keep me involved until the end of the season.

"If the manager doesn’t want me, that’s fine as well, so we’ll see what happens, but I’d like to think my career won’t finish with a red card."

Meanwhile, McNamara had said on his arrival at Bootham Crescent in early November that he had wanted Cresswell to stay and work with him and number two Simon Donnelly.

Cresswell and Donnelly had been team-mates at Sheffield Wednesday 15 years ago.

"Richard Cresswell will hopefully play a big part going forward," McNamara had said. "Simon and Richard had a good friendship at Sheffield Wednesday and they've stayed in touch. Hopefully that can be a big plus for us and Richard will come alongside us."

Cresswell had been in caretaker charge for one game prior to McNamara's appointment following the sacking of Russ Wilcox.

City fell to the foot of League Two last weekend after a club record ninth consecutive defeat, the seventh straight loss since McNamara took the helm.