FORMER York Wasps player Chris Hopcutt has questioned the relevance of York City’s youth team following his son’s release from the club.

Teenage pair Jamie Hopcutt and Dean Lisles have both been told they are surplus to requirements at Bootham Crescent by new manager Gary Mills.

That means none of the second-year apprentices who guided City’s under-18s to second place in last season’s Football Youth Alliance League North-East Conference are now on the club’s books.

Winger Hopcutt and centre-back Lisles were signed on non-contract, first-year professional terms in the summer but have become the first players to be released by Mills, along with ex-Sunderland striker David Dowson.

The City boss stressed that he had not made the decision lightly but Chris Hopcutt, who joined fellow parents of scholars last season in raising money to meet the £19,000 shortfall for financing the juniors’ side, feels the treatment of his son and Lisles has been a “disgrace”.

The ex-York Wasps rugby league winger said: “As a parent, you are encouraged to take kids down to York City and Jamie has been there since he was nine. The youth team had an exceptional season last season but only two of that side were taken on at £150 a week.

“Darlington finished way below us in the under-18 league last season but three of their side played in their first team last week. Jamie has only played three behind-closed doors games for York this season and the new manager hasn’t seen him play.

“How can anybody know he’s not ready when he’s not been given a chance? I can understand the club letting young players go if they have been given an opportunity to show what they can do, but other players have been brought in to the club that have looked average.

“What does that say for any members of the current youth team who are trying to get contracts at the end of this season?

“I played semi-professional rugby in York for ten years and the attitude towards home-grown talent was totally different. I think the way Jamie and Dean have been treated has been a disgrace.”

Mills added that he understood some of Hopcutt’s sentiments but pointed out that developing young talent at Bootham Crescent is becoming increasingly problematic due to financial constraints and the lack of a reserve side.

He was also at pains to stress that he hopes his decision proves to be beneficial for both players’ long-term development, saying: “The squad here is too big and we haven’t got a reserve side at York City to accommodate all the players.

“Players who are not going to be playing for me this season, therefore, need to go out and play at a level where they will grow up and improve.

“Some people won’t think that’s right, but we’re not working in a fair industry.

“That’s why you have to make some big decisions as a manager. I am a parent myself so I don’t make decisions like these lightly.

“A lot of thought has gone into this but I understand if players and their families get upset.

“Hopefully, for those two players, it will prove the right move in the long run and they will go on to play at a decent level of football and end up playing at the likes of York City again.

“They have been getting 90 minutes at Stokesley but, no disrespect to that club, that won’t improve them and they need to play at a better level if they are to aspire to play for York City.”

About the troubles in nurturing teenage talent while City are operating at non-League level, Mills added: “It’s hard to develop young players.

“You can do it on the training field but they need to be playing.

“York City are not the only club in this situation.

“A lot of players are getting released on the same basis all over the country. Financially, we have to go with what we can.

“In an ideal world, we would have a reserve team that provides a natural progression into the first team but that’s just not possible.”