GARY MILLS is refusing to rule out promotion this season but says York City's immediate target is now a top 12 spot in the National League.

Back for a second spell as manager, Mills has inherited a team that is only three points clear of the relegation zone.

Chairman Jason McGill and the club's supporters wanted an immediate return to the Football League this season but with 15 games gone that is now looking a tall order.

Former Scottish international Jackie McNamara has relinquished the manager's role to become York's new chief executive.

Mills, although sacked last week by Wrexham, is a popular replacement after leading York to promotion four years ago.

"Of course, it saddens me to see where the club is now," he told The Press yesterday afternoon. "It took a lot of hard work to get this club back into the Football League and I wanted them to stay there forever so people would say 'Gary Mills got us back into Football League'.

"However long it takes me, I want to get this club back into League Two," he said. "Of course I want to get in the play-offs this season but I think, if I said to everybody at this football club now, 'would you take a top half finish at this moment in time' most of them would say 'yes' because I think they have been panicking about the other side of it.

"You have to be totally realistic in what it is, where we are, and what we are doing," he explained. "The last time I was here, the club had been out of the Football League eight years. This time it has been a year. The last thing we want is for it to be out eight years again.

"It would be a dream for everyone if we get promoted but let's not get carried away." he said. "There are six or seven clubs in this league who have thrown unbelievable money at it to get out.

"The budget at this football club is good enough to get out. It draws the better players but it doesn't always guarantee success. So I have to make sure - over time - that I use the money wisely and get the strength back here at the club to achieve success again."

As reported, Mills feel that a squad of 29 players should be trimmed by 10 players and makes no secret of his desire to lose a goalkeeper.

Transfer-listed Scott Flinders has returned to the club following a loan spell at Macclesfield Town and Mills confirmed that the former Crystal Palace goalkeeper's future is up in the air after the arrival of Kyle Letheren and Luke Simpson.

"Macclesfield have been doing well and he's enjoyed playing but his loan is up and he's come back," said Mills. "I have had a chat with Scott and told him to get on with it - train how you play and then I will decide who I feel is the right goalkeeper to play.

"But if Scott tells me that he is not happy and wants to get away, he can go when the time is right for this football club," Mills stressed. "Certainly, at this moment in time, we don't want any players that are not totally committed. That's the last thing we need.

"If Scott feels that he is not totally committed, for whatever reason, then I need to know. It's nothing personal. Scott can go and play (elsewhere) if it is right for this football club. We have one too many goalkeepers. If Scott decides he wants to stay and fight for his place, we will have to address that - but we don't need three goalkeepers."