Transfer-listed Michael Potts bids to prove a point (From York Press)
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Transfer-listed Michael Potts bids to prove York City chief wrong
11:40am Tuesday 14th August 2012 in Sport
York City’s Michael Potts wants to remain at the Crescent
MIDFIELDER Michael Potts has declared his determination to fight for a first-team shirt at York City – but admits he may have to join another club to play regularly.
The 20-year-old former Blackburn Rovers trainee has been told he is surplus to requirements at Bootham Crescent by manager Gary Mills and is determined to buckle down and try to prove him wrong.
Admitting his disappointment at being placed on the transfer list, Potts has been heartened by his cameo role in the Minstermen’s League Cup penalty shoot-out defeat at Doncaster Rovers on Saturday.
Brought on by Mills to score from the spot, Potts did the job as one of City’s two successful takers and said he is pleased to still be in the frame as York begin life back in the Football League at home to Wycombe Wanderers this weekend.
Realising he is up against it, he has vowed to do all he can to get back into the side. But Potts, who has a year left on his contract, would be willing to leave if a suitable club makes an approach.
“It’s obviously hard with me being on the transfer list,” he said.
“All I can do is prove the gaffer wrong and show people what I can do. I think I’ve been doing really well in training recently – the lads have been telling me to keep my head up – and all I can do is keep going.
“I have got a lot of support behind the scenes and, you never know, in football things can change just like that.
“The gaffer brought a couple of midfielders in over the summer and, obviously, I had it in the back of my mind ‘am I going to play?’ and ‘should I go and see him and ask to go out on loan?’ “To be fair, he approached me and said I was going to be still involved but I was going on the transfer list because, if teams came in, I needed to go out and play.
“He said I was a young lad and a good player but wasn’t what he needed at the moment.
“He did the right thing telling me. I would rather know now if I can go to a club, but it is going to be hard because a lot of clubs have already got their teams set.
“At the moment, I am trying to get back into the York team. York is a great club – with the fans and everyone behind the scenes – and I would love to be here but if someone comes in for me I am willing to go because I need games.
“I will fight for my place and I will still train 100 per cent and give it everything.”
Asked what his seven minute outing at the Keepmoat and subsequent successful penalty meant to him, Potts added: “It makes me feel a lot better. The last couple of weeks have been really hard. It has been ‘what do I do?’, ‘no one wants me’ and that I am not getting any games. I look at the young lads, like Paddy McLaughlin, and they are playing every week and that’s what I want.
“I am going to carry on going and this gives me the fight to keep going and hopefully change the gaffer’s mind. I have to take it as it comes. I am not going to get my hopes up because I will get down about it (if I don’t play). We will see what happens.”
And Potts is in no doubt that, with or without him, the Minstermen have the squad to make a successful impact on League Two.
He said: “I thought the lads did really well against Doncaster. They (Donny) weren’t going to score if they didn’t get the penalty and we can compete with whoever we are playing. We are a good team and we’ve got the ability.”
Comments(20)
OLD - HEAD
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1:24pm Tue 14 Aug 12
redwhiteblue
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2:17pm Tue 14 Aug 12
Yorkie69
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2:22pm Tue 14 Aug 12
tomycfclad2
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2:45pm Tue 14 Aug 12
OLD - HEAD wrote:Mate, I reckon you were watching Liam Henderson...
I watched this lad, before the match, firing in practice shots against Paul Musselwhite. He rarely hit the target, so when he stepped up to take a penalty, I held my breath. But he took a lovely penalty, and scored comfortably. He has a good attitude and I wish him well. But he will probably have to move away to get a regular game.
TerryYork
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2:52pm Tue 14 Aug 12
OLD - HEAD
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4:35pm Tue 14 Aug 12
tomycfclad2 wrote:Actually Henderson was banging them in left right and centre, but he didnt smile once.
OLD - HEAD wrote: I watched this lad, before the match, firing in practice shots against Paul Musselwhite. He rarely hit the target, so when he stepped up to take a penalty, I held my breath. But he took a lovely penalty, and scored comfortably. He has a good attitude and I wish him well. But he will probably have to move away to get a regular game.Mate, I reckon you were watching Liam Henderson...
Anonymoose
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5:49pm Tue 14 Aug 12
oldmanvecrayke
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6:33pm Tue 14 Aug 12
nicko75
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6:47pm Tue 14 Aug 12
tomwillo1
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8:59pm Tue 14 Aug 12
YO1
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10:48pm Tue 14 Aug 12
Davell
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11:23pm Tue 14 Aug 12
yorkshirecalling
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12:04am Wed 15 Aug 12
York's football is as bad as its compulsory education.
GreenshawGrinder
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12:13am Wed 15 Aug 12
GreenshawGrinder
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12:17am Wed 15 Aug 12
Killieboy
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12:47am Wed 15 Aug 12
Sir Alex
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8:17am Wed 15 Aug 12
Davell wrote:Ha! Like me you just can't help looking at the conference scores/scorers. Mansfield have made a great start I see!!! 8 goals conceded!!
Adreano Moke scored the winner for Cambridge tonight. Your time will come Pottsy stick with it.
haxbyycfc
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8:33am Wed 15 Aug 12
yorkshirecalling wrote:Spelling granted. I notice a lot of mistakes myself but not many apostrophe errors - punctuation is rarely used! lol
Some of the spelling and apostrophe use on this website is atrocious.
York's football is as bad as its compulsory education.
rogue84
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10:13am Wed 15 Aug 12
As for Potts, nobody has a problem with him at BC and we all recognise he's a really good footballer. Lets hope he can work his way back into Millsy's plans.
long distance depressive says...
12:08pm Tue 14 Aug 12