YORK City winger Craig Nelthorpe has asked for a loan move away from Bootham Crescent.

Nelthorpe, 22, has yet to make a senior start for the Minstermen having arrived in the summer following his release by Blue Square rivals Oxford.

His City career got off to a difficult start when he was sent off in the club’s final pre-season friendly at Halifax and, just hours later, was arrested along with team-mates Michael Gash, Michael Ingham and Michael Rankine following an incident outside Clifford Street’s Subway outlet. City chief Martin Foyle, though, had intended to field Nelthorpe against FA Cup fourth qualifying round opponents Bedworth United before he was surprised by the ex-Doncaster Rovers midfielder’s transfer request.

Foyle said: “I had planned to play Craig Nelthorpe in the Bedworth match, but he asked for a move before the game so that’s why he didn’t start. I gave the players who want to be at the club a go instead.

“We’ve sent a circular out to other clubs informing them of his availability and a couple of Blue Square North clubs have shown an interest, so we will see what happens.”

Nelthorpe’s midfield team-mate Simon Russell has extended his loan stay with Tamworth until the opening of the transfer window in January.

Discussions between the two clubs have also taken place about the likelihood of a permanent deal in the New Year.

Foyle, meanwhile, will be studying FA Cup opponents Crewe Alexandra on DVD ahead of City’s first round tie a week on Saturday.

The League Two team’s only fixture before the Bootham Crescent clash is at Cheltenham this weekend and clashes with the Minstermen’s trip to Crawley, meaning Foyle will not get the chance to view Dario Gradi’s men in the flesh beforehand.

But the City boss pointed out: “I’ve already got two or three DVDs on them and we will be doing our homework.”

Foyle added that he will not discuss the Cup game with his players until after the Crawley match and is confident his players will not be distracted by the tie.

He said: “The players will naturally have one eye on the game whatever I say but I won’t be mentioning Crewe at all this week and our lads are a professional bunch.”

Foyle also revealed that skipper Daniel Parslow would have faced Bedworth on Saturday but was left on the bench due to illness.

Either Djoumin Sangare or David McGurk is likely to make way for his return at Crawley.