DAVE WINFIELD reckons York City's results during the final weeks of the last campaign gave cause for encouragement for next season - despite admitting the squad underachieved in 2014-15.

The 27-year-old centre-back endured a topsy-turvy campaign personally, struggling to regain a shirt after injury and being loaned out to Wimbledon.

He returned to Bootham Crescent and helped the club to pull away from the drop zone in League Two only to then miss three of their last four games due to suspension.

"I think everyone at the club would admit their form throughout the season has not been up to the standard they would expect from themselves," Winfield said.

"Had that form been there, I don't think we would be looking to strengthen many areas this summer because we should have been going for the play-offs with the personnel we had and the experience in terms of games played within the group.

"That we didn't was unfortunate and disappointing for everyone and where strengthening now takes place is up to the manager. But, during the last month or two, there was a definite improvement in form.

"The players showed they are more than capable of playing at this level and that's important moving forward."