FORMER Scunthorpe goalkeeper Sam Slocombe is on York City boss Russ Wilcox’s wanted list following his release from Glanford Park.

Wilcox has made a new net-minder and striker his chief priorities in the close season and would like to hold talks with Slocombe.

But the Minstermen chief is expecting competition for the former York College shot- stopper’s services.

The Scunthorpe-born 26-year-old was an ever-present in the Scunthorpe team that won promotion from Sky Bet League Two under Wilcox in 2013/14.

An injury-interrupted campaign restricted him to just 15 appearances last term with Luke Daniels also establishing himself as the Iron’s first choice between the sticks under Wilcox’s successor Mark Robins.

Slocombe played college football in York between 2006 and 2008 under the watchful eyes of ex-Minstermen Gordon Staniforth and Andy Leaning.

He went on to represent English Colleges before being offered a pro deal at his home-town club, where he has played 133 games during the last seven years.

On his interest in Slocombe, Wilcox said: “He’s a good goalkeeper and a good age. He’s played a lot of games, including every match when we got promoted at Scunthorpe, so he’s somebody I’d be interested in, but I’m sure there will be a lot of interest from bigger clubs.

“I’m surprised Scunthorpe have let him go but that’s their decision and, if there’s an opportunity to speak to Sam, I will take it.”

Wilcox added, meanwhile, that he expects to be priced out of any bidding war for Stephane Zubar’s services.

The Guadeloupe international, who played 25 times on loan for City last season, is poised to be released by Premier League new boys Bournemouth but, on a potential return to Bootham Crescent, Wilcox reasoned: “I would love to get Stephane back here next season but that will probably be difficult and I can’t quite see it happening.

“I’m sure he will have interest from League One clubs and he could be out of our league financially.”

Malvind Benning, who Wilcox also drafted in on loan last season, has already been released by Walsall but the City chief remained non-committal on whether he would pursue the left-back again, saying: “I thought he did well when he came in and it would have been interesting to see how he would have done in a wing-back role because he was quite exciting going forward.

“There will be a lot of players out there who will interest us this summer. I’ve had discussions with a few players so things are happening, but they tend to keep their options open at this time of the year.”

Wilcox has confirmed too that he will look to appoint an external candidate as his new assistant and admitted that relieving Steve Torpey of that role was a difficult decision - both on a personal and professional level.

The City boss has cited experience as an important feature on his next number two’s CV and John Schofield, who worked with Wilcox at Scunthorpe, could be an obvious choice.

Schofield was team-mates with Wilcox at Doncaster in the mid-1990s and has since managed Lincoln, coached at Walsall and been an assistant at Cheltenham, Cambridge United, Notts County and Gillingham - working for Martin Allen during three separate spells.

“We are looking to bring somebody in from outside,” Wilcox said of the assistant vacancy.

“I also want somebody with experience who’s been there and done it at a variety of clubs and knows everything about the number-two role - a bit similar to me before I became a manager at Scunthorpe.

“That’s a key consideration. It was a really difficult decision to part company with Steve because I class him as a good friend as well.

“He has been at the club almost seven years and has been a great servant wherever he’s been. I played with him at Scunthorpe and he gave everything to his job.

“But I am trying to put my stamp on York City by bringing some freshness to the group and that’s important. It’s always good to have a different set of ideas at a training ground to keep the lads stimulated.”

The Minstermen are also looking for a replacement for departed goalkeeping coach Andy Collett, with Wilcox explaining: “We want to freshen the goalkeeping department up too.”