"We still want to reach play-offs" - York City captain Simon Heslop says players could have worked harder for Jackie McNamara

Former Scottish international McNamara resigned as York manager three games ago with the Minstermen sitting only three points clear of the relegation zone.

McNamara, who is now the club's chief executive, was replaced by Gary Mills, whose appointment, according to Heslop, sparked an immediate improvement in work-rate.

Although Heslop is a huge admirer of Mills - and has played under the 54-year-old previously at both Tamworth and Wrexham - he was still alarmed that a change in manager was needed to stir players into life.

"There's been a good reaction in training - everyone has been working really hard to try to impress the new manager," he said. "People are trying to prove themselves - but that's what it should be like every day.

"It should have been like that under the previous manager. There is no point in sitting around in the squad and being happy that you are not playing. No player should be like that."

Mills' return to York - a club he guided into the Football League four years ago - has lifted morale among supporters, although the team are yet to win in his three games in charge and Tuesday night's 2-0 defeat at fellow strugglers Southport left them just one point above the drop zone.

Heslop says the club's players now have to ensure the rest of the season is hailed as a success.

"If I am honest, it might be difficult to win the league now - but we still want to get in the play-offs," he said.

"It's easy to sit here and say that. It will take a lot of hard work. But the club's aim is still to get into the play-offs. In the back of our minds, we don't want this to be a wasted season."

Heslop, who was born in York, played under Mills as a teenager at Tamworth. He had moved on loan to the Conference National side from Barnsley to gain first team experience.

The pair linked up again at Wrexham last season after Mills signed the midfielder from Torquay United.

He was offered an extended contract this summer but opted instead to sign for his hometown club after being offered a two-year deal by McNamara.

"I enjoyed my time under Gary Mills at Wrexham but I won't forget that it was Jackie who brought me to this club and made me captain. I won't forget that and I thank him for that," said Heslop.

Asked about his reaction to Mills' appointment, Heslop said: "It could have been a lot worse! He was one of the better names on the list. I was pleased it was someone I knew, someone who I have worked with before.

"He has tweaked the formation a little bit but the biggest thing he is trying to get across at the moment is the intensity. He wants us pressing teams together - not going in ones and twos.

"I enjoy the way he goes about playing football. He likes to pass the ball. He likes to press teams and have the majority of possession but, at the end of the day, he also knows that the result is the main thing. There is no point playing pretty football if it doesn't turn into three points."

Mills, meanwhile, thinks Heslop's "honesty and dedication" are the main reasons why he was given the captain's armband by McNamara this summer.

"I have not had Simon as skipper before and I will learn a bit more about him over the coming weeks," Mills said.

"He was possibly given the armband because of what he does on the field and because of his honesty and dedication to the job he does.

"My message to the players has been go out and do your job. Don't worry about anyone else's. I just want Simon to concentrate on his strengths. He is infectious and he likes to win that ball."