YORK City boss Gary Mills has suggested that top-scorer Richard Brodie is not fit enough to play in his team.

Brodie, 29, was farmed out on loan to Hereford within a fortnight of Mills becoming Gateshead manager during 2013/14 and then was released at the end of that campaign following another temporary spell with Southport.

The ex-Newcastle Benfield forward who, like Mills, is currently in his second stint at Bootham Crescent, will now be sweating on his future in North Yorkshire as the Minstermen chief embarks on a squad-trimming process.

Brodie has netted more than a century of goals at National League level and scored in Mills' first match back in charge at Curzon Ashton. But the City chief, speaking at the York Sports Club-hosted Fans Forum, said: "Richard is always a player who will get a job at this level because he'll score a goal, but he's never been one who has found it easy to be disciplined in terms of the way he looks after himself.

"For me personally - and he knows this because I had him at Gateshead for ten days when I said to him we'll probably meet up again in 20 years and have a pint together - I need committed and disciplined players. Lots of players and coaches have had similar conversations with him over the years and he is what he is.

"He's got seven goals this season, but we need players who are fit and will work hard to make things happen. Robbie McDaid has looked amazing in training and excites me - not only with his desire to score goals, but also with his commitment to stopping the opposition getting one at the other end by working hard and tracking back.

"I need fit, athletic players. If they're not, then I promise they won't play for York City Football Club."

Fielding a question about Simon Heslop's suitability as club captain, meanwhile, Mills added: "Simon played for me at Wrexham last season and wasn't my captain.

"Sean Newton was, who I've now brought in. He knows the league and gives everything when he crosses that white line.

"The captain's job is so important and, I've got to say, I didn't see Simon as a captain, but he does have a big heart and works hard and that's probably why he was given the armband. I also think a captain has to be a good talker and organiser on and off the field.

"It's early days, though, in terms of me being back here and we really need 11 captains out there."

During Mills' previous spell in charge of the Minstermen, he passed the captaincy on from goalkeeper Michael Ingham to new signing Chris Smith, who he had recruited from former club Tamworth.