GOALKEEPERS Steven Drench and David Knight are hoping to secure a move to York City.

Fellow trialists Paul Bolland and David McDermott are also aiming to catch Minstermen chief Martin Foyle’s eye during the Bootham Crescent club’s pre-season programme.

The four players are all expected to feature in Saturday’s home friendly against relegated Premier League outfit Hull City.

Ex-Morecambe stopper Drench and former Histon number one Knight are likely to be handed a half each as Foyle looks for a new ’keeper to challenge Michael Ingham following the release of Josh Mimms.

One-time Walsall winger McDermott, meanwhile, is a free agent after turning down a new deal at Kidderminster, where he has spent the last two seasons, while 30-year-old midfielder Bolland is also on the lookout for a new club, having previously plied his trade with Bradford, Notts County, Grimsby and Macclesfield.

Former England Schoolboys international Drench, 24, spent last season at Leigh Genesis having won Morecambe’s Player of the Year award during their play-off winning 2006/7 season despite missing out on a victorious Wembley outing after being injured in a collision with ex-City striker Clayton Donaldson in the semi-finals.

The 6ft tall stopper struggled to regain his Shrimps place after that clash, moving on to Southport and Cambridge before arriving at Leigh last year.

Tyne and Wear-born Knight, 23, is a former Middlesbrough trainee whose career has taken in spells at Darlington, Oldham, Swansea, Mansfield and Histon, where he moved in February and made 12 appearances. His last outing saw him ship six goals against Luton.

City’s new part-time goalkeeping coach Andy Leaning will run the rule over both players at the club’s Wigginton Road training ground this week before Saturday’s Tigers’ test.

“Andy will have a look at both of them on Thursday and we will probably want to see them get a half each against Hull as a decision will need to be made soon,” Foyle said.

About McDermott and Bolland, he added: “They will be given chances to impress and then the ball is in their court.”

Aside from Australian left-back James Meredith, Foyle is expecting to choose from a fully-fit squad for Saturday’s opening pre-season friendly.

The City chief said: “James Meredith had a knee operation over the summer and I’m not sure that he’s 100 per cent yet so he might have to sit out the Hull game. Otherwise, everybody is fine apart from one or two blisters.”

Foyle also praised Leaning’s commitment to the club he played for between 1985 and 1987 after the York-based former Sheffield United coach turned down an opportunity to fulfil the same role at Football League outfit Bradford City.

“We were very lucky to come across Andy,” the Minstermen boss admitted.

“He’s right on our doorstep and has been here before so he knows all about the stadium and our training ground.

“It’s a very important appointment as I was beginning to panic a bit and he also had the option to join Bradford City after agreeing to come here but he stuck to his word which is admirable. He will be working two days a week, either on a Monday or Tuesday and a Thursday.

“He has experience in the role and will provide another set of eyes to assist myself, Andy Porter and Steve Torpey even though he will only be working with us on a part-time basis.”

Meanwhile, Foyle has also moved to quell further speculation that last season’s 37-goal top scorer Richard Brodie is poised to leave the club after reports of a £125,000 bid from Blue Square Bet Premier rivals Crawley Town.

He said: “Until we receive anything in writing, then there is nothing to report and I’m not aware of any bids being made.”