CHAIRMAN Jason McGill has cited "deliberate and strategic attempts to thwart major footballing decisions" as a reason for Jackie McNamara's failure to deliver results at York City.

McGill has not elaborated further on his beliefs, but the comments will do little to quash speculation surrounding the departures of first-team coach Richard Cresswell and youth-team manager Jonathan Greening in December, which have never been fully explained.

The Malton-based businessman has also suggested that the Minstermen will face financial pressures during the next two years before the move into a new community stadium, scheduled for 2018, outlining that the reliance on his JM Packaging company to cover losses is set to end in June.

In a club statement, "designed to prevent further conjecture and speculation surrounding York City and to provide qualification and an explanation of the club's future plans and objectives", McGill outlined that full approval from City of York Council to complete the Monks Cross project meant much-needed, income-generating opportunities would be provided following relocation, along with the security of a 99-year lease.

But the Malton-based businessman also pointed out: "The club will face financial challenges for the next two seasons while we remain at Bootham Crescent. JM Packaging's commitment to York City was not planned to go beyond the end of June 2016, with the first five years of support ending in 2011, the initial agreement with The Supporters’ Trust and the additional five-year plan of financial assistance, to coincide with occupation of the new stadium, due to finish on June 30, 2016.

"JM Packaging cannot keep funding York City year-on-year just to survive and, as a consequence, I made the decision, linked in with the appointment of Jackie McNamara, to overhaul the football side of the club. It was hoped that this could begin from day one of Jackie’s appointment in conjunction with improvements to performances and results.

"However, it is now my opinion that there were deliberate and strategic attempts to thwart major footballing decisions. This was unknown to many at the club at the time, including me.

"This unsettling atmosphere needed to be resolved and it has taken some time to reach a conclusion. The club is now in a position to effect meaningful change and I now believe that almost everyone is pulling in the same direction to help reach what we all want - a successful, ambitious and stable football club with long-term financial security that we can all be proud of."

McGill sees the reinstating of reserve football at the club as a key component in his future vision.

Organised second-string games were dispensed with by former manager Martin Foyle in 2009.

The Minstermen went on to reach the Conference play-offs that season and won promotion back to the Football League under Gary Mills two years later.

But McNamara and his predecessor Russ Wilcox both expressed regret at the club's lack of a reserve team and McGill is now in agreement, saying: "To help bridge the gap between the youth team and first team, we will resurrect the reserve side, where the youth-team players can test themselves against experienced opposition and the club can trial potential new players and enable players coming back from injury to gain much-needed game time."

A new club declaration, meanwhile, has been drawn up with the intention to recruit players at academy and senior levels, who will meet the following "new" York City standards by helping fulfil the following club objectives: “To instil pride, professionalism and passion to improve the club; to play fast, energetic, free flowing football that will entertain; to implement a proven football business model that will enable the club to become self-sufficient and successful for years to come.”

McGill also added that: "The academy players, currently at the club, will be educated to conduct themselves in an appropriate manner, to embrace the new York City values, beliefs, style of play and football DNA. This statement is also a working document that will be reviewed if certain targets are not met, both on and off the pitch, as a plan that will evolve and can be developed as the club progresses towards occupation and the management of the new community stadium in 2018."