OUT-OF-CONTRACT defender Dave Winfield will hold further talks about his York City future after being offered a new deal at Bootham Crescent.

Winfield won both the Press Player of the Year and Billy Fenton Clubman of the Year awards last season, but is yet to put pen to paper following the team’s relegation to the National League.

The 28-year-old defender has suggested he wants to carry on playing for the Minstermen next season, though, dependent on the outcome of more discussions with manager Jackie McNamara.

City’s vice-captain has not been approached by any other club yet and, outlining his situation, he said: “It’s a worrying time for every player who is out of contract and I’m very pleased to be offered one.

“I sat down with the gaffer last week and we had a conversation. There’s still another conversation to take place and I’d like to think I will be here next season.

“I’m not aware of any other interest at the minute, so we will see what develops and how it goes when I see the manager again. Then, we will take things from there in the next couple of weeks.”

Winfield was a National League title winner with a reborn Aldershot in 2008, but he has argued that the relegated Minstermen’s best opportunity of promotion will be during the next two seasons when they benefit from Football League parachute payments.

“It’s vital for a football club that comes out of the league to get promoted within one or two seasons,” he reasoned. “I think that’s possible here, but the application has to be there and the personnel that is brought in has to be right, so time will tell on that front.”

Despite the agony of relegation, Winfield took consolation from his personal accolades, deriving satisfaction for The Press award, which is the only one at the club based on a points system that operates through the whole campaign.

“It’s flattering and good for me to know that I performed at a certain level throughout,” he admitted. “To get the recognition and appreciation from everyone around the club and the supporters is fantastic on a personal level.”

Winfield pipped goalkeeper Scott Flinders by a point to our prize and confessed his nearest rival would have been his choice in a Players’ Player contest.

“Scotty’s been very good and, had it not been for him, we would have probably conceded a few more goals,” the ex-Wycombe centre back declared. “I would also mention the likes of Femi (Ilesanmi), Russ (Penn) and Summers (Luke Summerfield) along with him.”

The Press Player of the Year final standings: Winfield 39, Flinders 38, Ilesanmi 27, Berrett 26, Coulson 21, Summerfield 21, Fewster 15, Oliver 15, Cameron 11, McEvoy 10, Penn 10, Boyle 8, Nolan 7, Bennett 6, Alessandra 5, Collins 5, Hendrie 5, Thompson 5, Galbraith 4, Ingham 4, McCoy 4, Godfrey 3, Lowe 3, McCombe 3, Tutonda 3, Greening 2, Morris 2, Hyde 1, Kitching 1, Straker 1, Turner 1.

Goals: Oliver 10, Fewster 8, Summerfield 8, Coulson 7, Berrett 5, Penn 3, Thompson 3, Alessandra 2, McEvoy 2, Winfield 2, Cameron 1, Carson 1, Galbraith 1, Godfrey 1, Lowe 1, McCombe 1, Nolan 1, Turner 1.

Assists: Summerfield 9, Berrett 5, Alessandra 3, Coulson 3, Ilesanmi 3, McEvoy 3, Straker 3, Turner 3, Cameron 2, Carson 2, Morris 2, Oliver 2, Penn 2, Tutonda 2, Bennett 1, Boyle 1, Collins 1, Fewster 1, Galbraith 1, Hendrie 1, Hyde 1, Ingham 1, McCombe 1, McCoy 1, Nolan 1, Satka 1, Sinclair 1, Thompson 1.

Bad boys: Berrett ten yellow cards; Oliver, Winfield both one red, seven yellow; Penn one red, five yellow; McCoy five yellow; Carson four yellow; Hendrie two yellow, one red; Collins, Satka, Summerfield all three yellow; Boyle one yellow, one red; Alessandra, Coulson, Flinders, Galbraith, Godfrey, Ilesanmi all two yellow; Greening one red; Dixon, Fewster, Lussey, Massanka, McEvoy, Morris, Nolan, O’Connor, Swan, Thompson all one yellow.