YORK City boss Gary Mills has admitted that targeting back-to-back promotions is a “nice little carrot” in the bid to provide a fitting farewell to Bootham Crescent.

But the Minstermen chief also insisted that everybody’s attentions must, for now, be fully fixed on bouncing back into the National League at the first attempt during 2017/18.

The latest estimate from council officials has suggested that the new community stadium should be fully operational in time for the 2019/20 campaign with work due to begin in October.

Under that schedule, there would be two more seasons at the club’s current 85-year-old home and Mills is aware of the tantalising symmetry that would be offered by on-pitch success during those campaigns following successive relegations – the first from the Football League in 2016.

Bootham Crescent has never witnessed consecutive promotion campaigns and Mills said: “It’s a special ground and it holds a lot of special memories for all supporters so, if we could get back-to-back promotions during the next two seasons, there would be no better way of leaving Bootham Crescent.

“It’s a nice little carrot as a club. What’s happened has happened and we have to work hard now to get ourselves back up to the level this football club should be and, to then have the facilities to go with that, is really exciting.

“It’s a massive, massive challenge to bounce back straight away this season, because it’s a tough league to do that in, but that’s the next step we must look to make and then we would be working to get back into the Football League.

“We’ve got to concentrate on the first obstacle now though. We can’t start looking beyond that yet, because our focus must be on the here and now in National League North.”

Mills went on to express his desire to still be at the helm when City complete their move to Monks Cross.

But, having lost his job during a first managerial stint in North Yorkshire following an 11-match, win-less run the season after guiding the club back into the Football League, via the historic double-Wembley winning campaign, he is well aware that will not be decided by him.

“As a football manager, that’s always taken out of your hands and, sometimes, it doesn’t matter how well you do,” he reasoned. “That’s not always a guarantee you’ll still be in charge but, yes, I’d definitely love to be when we move there.

“I’m very happy in my job and want to be here. The new ground excites me and it’s just a shame that it’s not been built by now, having got the go ahead back in 2012 between the two Wembley games.”

Elsewhere, Gabby McGill - the son of City chairman Jason - has signed a two-year scholarship at Championship club Middlesbrough for a compensation fee agreed between the two teams.

McGill, 16, played for the City's youth and reserve teams last term and also represented England Independent Schools.

The transfer also has clauses which will result in further payments to the Minstermen should McGill make further progress at the Teesside outfit.

It is intended that the money from the move will be ploughed back into the academy.