FREE agent Stephane Zubar has admitted he would love to rejoin York City for a third spell at Bootham Crescent, but does not feel now is the right time.

The Guadeloupe international is currently playing on a non-contract basis for Weymouth having dropped down six levels following his release by Premier League Bournemouth over the summer.

Zubar started last term with the Minstermen, but his loan move from the south coast was cut short when he suffered a cruciate knee ligament injury during his fifth outing of that campaign against Exeter.

The 29-year-old centre back had previoulsy helped Russ Wilcox’s City side stave off the threat of relegation from the Football League the season before, as the team keep ten clean sheets during his first stint.

Whilst he waits for a possible route back into the game, though, Zubar has reservations about uprooting his family with the Minstermen now battling to climb up from the lower reaches of the National League.

“If I do move to a new club, it would need to be a good opportunity and a good project,” he reasoned. “I would love to play for York again.

“It’s a good club and it was a shame and really difficult to see them get relegated, because I think they deserve to be in League Two at least. My family had a good time in York and I’m sure my missus wouldn’t mind going back up there but, at the moment, I don’t think it’s the best time or conditions, because I don’t really know which direction the club is going.

“I also have to do the right thing by my family, not just what’s right for me, so I will be patient and see what happens.”

Zubar went on to admit that he felt helpless as City tumbled out of the Football League, whilst he completed his rehabilitation from the injury that has only just seen him return to competitive action.

“It’s easy to say it now because what’s done is done, but if I’d been fit, I’m sure I could have helped York City stay in League Two,” he insisted. “We did that the season before when I first signed for the club and I wanted to make a difference again when I came back.”

With 29 appearances to his name for the Minstermen, Zubar has also only ever played more games for Plymouth during his six-year career on these shores and reckons owner Jason McGill, the club’s staff and supporters have been let down since his departure.

“The chairman is a really nice bloke, who loves his club, as do all the people in the offices,” Zubar reasoned. “I’m sure he will be doing all he can to get the club promoted.

“The supporters at York were always amazing as well in terms of the travelling they did for away games, but it always comes down to players and managers and York City shouldn’t be in the Conference.”

Zubar was released by Bournemouth after playing two under-21 games for the Cherries at the tail-end of last season following seven months on the sidelines.

He went on to spend the summer as a trialist at two clubs – one being City boss Jackie McNamara’s old team Dundee United – before opting to play semi-professional with the Terras.

“I couldn’t come to an agreement with the clubs I went on trial to, because I have a family and house in Bournemouth and I wanted to make sure that, if I signed somewhere, it would be the best opportunity for us all,” he pointed out.

“At the moment, I’ve signed non-contract terms with Weymouth to keep fit. I’ve played a few games and it’s a nice feeling to be back on the pitch again.

“The season is long and it’s only just started, so anything can happen and, with the loan window being introduced, players can’t move on loan now in the Football League so, if a team wants to strengthen, they might have to sign free agents, which I am. To be honest, though, I’m enjoying playing for Weymouth.

“There are a lot of young players at the club and I’m trying to pass on my experience. It’s definitely different playing for Weymouth compared to being a professional at Bournemouth - I have to wash my own kit and boots now and we train three times a week.

“But I played in the Caribbean at a similar kind of level before I left for France at the age of 16 and, while you do forget what it’s like, I still have good memories of that time and I’ve always looked after myself and kept fit whoever I’m playing for. Every level you play, you want to win and, at 29, I want to enjoy football and life.

“I’m still playing a good standard and you find that, even when you go lower down in England, which is a lot different to France.

“We have a well-organised team and are trying to achieve something with young players. The club were also in the Conference not so long ago and it’s still a big club.”

While currently training to become an electrician, Zubar has also invested the money he has earned from the professional game wisely, buying two flats in France as well as his current family home.

Incredible foresight also saw him receive a financial windfall last season when a contract clause secured him a fresh deal at the top-flight new boys Bournemouth, whose first team he hadn’t represented since their League One days in 2012.

Explaining that turn of events, he said: “If you’re dreams don’t scare you, it’s because they’re not big enough and, when I joined Bournemouth, I told my agent to include a clause saying that I would get a new contract if the club got promoted to the Premier League. I was the only player to do that, because I was the only one who thought they could do it.”

Back at Bootham, Alex Whittle and Kyle Letheren are the only York City players able to catch September’s Press Player of the Month leader Kaine Felix ahead of this afternoon’s deciding contest at Barrow.

The pair were recognised as our second and third-best performers during last weekend’s 1-0 home defeat to Dover with Whittle picking up two points and Letheren one.

Our man-of-the-match Simon Heslop, meanwhile, received three points, while Justin Johnson collected the two bonus points of offer after topping our Twitter poll.

The Press Player of the Year standings: Connolly 13, Brodie 12, Heslop 7, Higgins 7, Whittle 7, Felix 5, Kamdjo 3, Letheren 4, Dixon 2, Rooney 2, Wright 2, Fry 1, Walton 1.

The September Press Player of the Month standings: Felix 9, Whittle 5, Letheren 4, Connolly 3, Heslop 3, Higgins 3, Brodie 2, Johnson 2, Walton 1.

Goals: Brodie 5, Connolly 3, Fenwick 1, Heslop 1, Kamdjo 1, Klukowski 1, Own Goal 1, Wright 1.

Assists: Connolly 6, Felix 2, Wright 2, Fry 1, Heslop 1, Klukowski 1, Whittle 1.

Bad boys: Rooney five yellow cards; Brodie four yellow; Higgins three yellow; Wright two yellow; Heslop one red; Clappison, Dixon, Fenwick, Fry, Johnson, Kamdjo, Klukowski, Nti, Thompson, Whittle all one yellow.