YORK City boss Gary Mills is ready to enter the transfer market following the 1-1 draw with Chester.

Mills was denied victory during his first home match back in charge of the Minstermen when substitute Kane Richards’ stoppage-time equaliser cancelled out Matt Fry’s 70th-minute opener.

The former double-Wembley winning chief admitted afterwards, however, that the hosts did not deserve maximum points and, having received the green light from chairman Jason McGill, Mills intends to bolster the Bootham Crescent ranks.

“We didn’t dominate the game, they did,” an honest Mills confessed. “They hit the woodwork twice and you could see why they’re doing well in the league.

“It’s always disappointing to lose a 90th-minute goal but, to be honest, it wasn’t as if they didn’t deserve it. There’s no doubt we need to strengthen and the chairman is letting me do that.

“People have been brought into the club in the hope that they would be OK, but they’ve not been any better than those that were here before. Now, we have to bring in players who are better.”

Mills added that his recruitment priority will be targeting players who are comfortable enough in possession to embrace the brand of football that characterised his last period in charge of City.

“I learnt a lot again (from the Chester display),” Mills pointed out. “I asked the players to show they had big hearts and I thought they did that. “They worked really hard, but it’s their understanding of the game that has to be better, as well as the way they keep the ball. We look nervous on the ball at times.

“We need some quality and somebody to get on the ball and calm things down because our play is all a bit erratic. Like the players, our supporters are nervous and it’s almost a relief when the centre half bangs it up the pitch and it goes out for a goal kick because the opposition can’t score then, but neither can we.

“We’ve got to build confidence so we know we can play out from the back and, in time, we will start playing the right way and at the right times, without taking risks. To do that, we need players who are more confident taking the ball and then it’s not risk taking, because you know the ball will stick and players will make things happen.

“I need a bit of time to put that right, either with this set of players or some others and, hopefully, by Eastleigh away (on November 12), everybody will see a different side. I know it will be a tough, tough time to get it right over the next few weeks, but that’s what the chairman has brought me here for.”

Kyle Letheren kept his team in the match with a string of fine saves prior to Richards’ late leveller and an impressed Mills enthused: “The keeper was outstanding.

“You need a good keeper, because you’ve got no chance if you haven’t and I was gutted for him that he conceded a goal late on.”

Franklin Clarke, meanwhile, made his City debut in midfield and teenager Callum Rzonca was handed his first senior start on the left wing.

On their call-ups, Mills explained: “After the Cup game, I thought we needed a bit more energy and they both started because they had trained very well during the week. Callum has got to learn the game, which he will do.

“Franklyn could have done a lot better, but he could have done a lot worse.”

The pair’s inclusion came as Mills made six changes to the side that lost 2-1 at Curzon Ashton in the FA Cup replay with Richard Brodie, Yan Klukowski and Danny Galbraith dropping to the bench, while Kaine Felix, Shaun Rooney and Luke Simpson were omitted from the squad altogether.

“It might have shocked a couple of players but those who have been left out have got to work hard, regardless of them being in the side or not,” Mills outlined. “They’ve got to get in my face during training, so I can’t leave them out again and I’ll be looking at how people react now.”

Ex-Spurs midfielder Darren Caskey, who was Mills’ assistant at his previous club Wrexham, joined the former European Cup winner in the home dugout against Chester, although he has not been given an official title at Bootham Crescent yet.

“I’ve asked Darren to come in and have a look at the players,” Mills said. “He’s not been made the assistant at this moment in time.

“I just wanted him to work alongside me, because we work well together. I love the way he works. He’s honest and the players will find out what he’s about.”