Selection headache for York City manager Martin Foyle

The Minstermen chief has lost his main source of goals and, with the deal being done right on the transfer window’s final whistle, he has been unable to yet bring in reinforcements.

With summer signing George Purcell still injured, Foyle has been left with just Michael Gash and Michael Rankine ahead of Saturday’s visit of Rushden & Diamonds.

But, despite describing the situation as a “nightmare” in playing terms, Foyle, pictured below, said the transfer deal was money the club simply could not turn down.

And he added there would be no hiding places for his remaining attackers, who would have to step up to the plate and fill the gap caused by Brodie’s departure.

“From a football perspective, it is very hard,” he said. “We can’t bring any loan players in for over a week and I couldn’t sign anyone because the deal hadn’t gone ahead.

“It is a nightmare for me. People won’t just loan players in the first month or two months of the season, while players are sticking put if they have a chance of making the squad.”

On Brodie’s departure, he continued: “I have to look at the whole piece. It was good money for Richard Brodie with the position the club is in. The McGill family are financing the whole club and if they’d had another Clayton Donaldson and had got nothing, the chairman would have been criticised.

“It was a no-win situation. It has been accepted and we have got to move on.”

Minstermen wary of repeat Donaldson no-fee setback

A STATEMENT on York City’s official website read: “York City FC have accepted an undisclosed fee for Richard Brodie from Crawley Town just before last night’s transfer deadline.

“It was a club decision to accept the fee. Two months ago, the club offered Richard Brodie a new contract which was turned down. Richard Brodie was out of contract at the end of the season and would have been able to leave then for free.

“The club did not want a similar situation to Clayton Donaldson whereby he was 23 and left to play in Scotland for free. At that time the chairman received criticism for not receiving a fee although his only aim was to get York City promoted.

“This time the club had to let the player leave and accept a fee, bearing in mind that the player had asked to go. We all wish Richard well for the future.

“As a club we now have to move forward and look to the future.”

Now he’s a Red Devil

DEPARTED York City striker Richard Brodie said he was looking forward to the challenge at Crawley Town and was under no illusions he would have to battle to get a place in the team, writes Steve Carroll.

The 23-year-old forward left the Minstermen to join the “project” at the Broadfield Stadium, where the Red Devils have splashed the cash to try to force their way into the Football League.

Manager Steve Evans has brought in 16 players since July and Brodie will have to fight it out with the likes of Matt Tubbs, fellow Blue Square Bet Premier joint top scorer last season, ex-Peterborough United striker Ben Wright and ex-Oxford forward Jamie Cook to lead the Crawley line.

But Brodie can’t wait to take up the challenge.

“It’s a new chapter in my career,” he said.

“I am part of a new project and I will definitely have to fight for my place. That’s only positive.

“I had to fight for my place (at York) – regardless of how many goals I scored.

“I am up for the challenge and it is one of the reasons I have gone there.

“I’ve made a decision to go and give it a go. If it doesn’t work out I will hold my hands up.”

Brodie also revealed it had been a difficult decision to leave the North – he still lives on Tyneside – but hoped it would make him a better person.

“It will probably help me grow up and become a man,” he added. “There are things I’ve got to learn. It’s been me and my mam for 15 or 16 years now.

“She is sad I am leaving and I have got a lot of friends and family there.

“Obviously I am going to be on my own down there and looking after myself, but I am looking forward to it.”