DAVID McGurk gave returning York City boss Gary Mills his vote of confidence this week and also told The Press that he gave great consideration to applying for the managerial vacancy himself before deciding against it.

The former City favourite, who is now Hyde United boss Darren Kelly’s player/assistant manager, admitted it was a case of head overruling heart as his application remained unwritten.

Instead, McGurk intends to continue cutting his coaching teeth under ex-Bootham Crescent team-mate Kelly, before going it alone in the near future.

Explaining his thought process, when the role as manager at a club he made 333 appearances for became available last week, McGurk said: “My heart was saying ‘go for it,’ but my head was saying ‘you’re not ready for it yet’.

“I’m completing my UEFA A Licence now, so I’m doing lots of work with senior players whereas, before, I’ve been mainly putting on sessions for youngsters. I’m also learning bits of things from Darren in terms of budgets and the other stuff you have to deal with, but he knows I’ll want to go on my own soon and get back into full-time football.”

Centre-back McGurk, now 34, is still playing for Hyde in the Evo-Stik League’s division one north, having spent two years with National League North neighbours Harrogate Town after ending a ten-year association with the Minstermen in 2014.

His creaking body, though, is likely to dictate that this campaign will be the last for a player who sits 16th on City’s all-time appearance list.

“I’m 34 and I’ve only played seven games but I have scored three goals, believe it or not,” McGurk smiled. “I’ve torn my hamstring now though and I’m coming close to the end, because it’s just one thing after another and I don’t train any more.

“I’ll carry on until the end of the season, but I don’t want it to be at the detriment of the team if I start games and have to come off. We also need to build some consistency in terms of our centre-back partnerships.”

Off the pitch, the Middlesbrough-born defender is overseeing the growth of his Pro Player Football Academy, which was originally launched in Wakefield with another one-time Minsterman John McCombe.

Since then, centres have opened in Gateshead and Rotherham – the latter being overseen by City’s former Press Player of the Year Dave Merris.

But a career in management remains his biggest goal and, as he pondered on whether to throw his name in the hat to become Jackie McNamara’s successor, McGurk ran the rule over a City squad that he feels does have potential in certain areas.

“When I was thinking about applying for the job, I watched a lot of the DVDs of games this season and you could see different strengths and weaknesses,” he pointed out. “If you can get Lanre (Oyebanjo) fit, then you’ve got the best right back in the league, which is one thing to build on.

“Aidan Connolly also looked a level above and Richard Brodie does what he does. Even if he’s changed his game slightly, he’s going to get you goals.

“I also thought the left-back Alex Whittle looked solid.”