FORMER double-Wembley winning boss Gary Mills has told The Press that he would “love” a return to York City as manager and has applied for his old job.

Mills, 54, parted company with Wrexham just two days after his old club announced that Jackie McNamara will be stepping down as City chief this week.

Ex-Celtic skipper McNamara is continuing to take charge on a caretaker basis until his successor is found and is set to be in the dugout for tomorrow’s FA Cup fourth qualifying round home tie against Curzon Ashton.

Mills, though, is now targeting a comeback to the club he guided to 2012 Conference play-off final and FA Trophy glory, saying: “I’ve made contact with the club to say that I would be interested in the job, because I’d love to go back and get the opportunity to manage there again.

“Sometimes, things happen for a reason and, from my side, I’m out of work now and the York job is available. Everybody knows it’s somewhere that is close to my heart and I know the club and the club knows me.”

Mills took over at Bootham Crescent in October 2010 following Martin Foyle’s resignation.

The team were lying 16th at the time and just two points above the relegation zone, but he went on to steer the club to an unlikely play-off challenge and a third round FA Cup appearance at then Premier League outfit Bolton, before securing promotion the following campaign.

City are currently sitting 19th in the National League standings three points clear of the drop zone and the comparisons to six years ago are not lost on the former European Cup winner.

He added: “It’s a similar situation to last time. The club hasn’t got off to the best start and, as before, it would be a case of putting a smile back on people’s faces to get the club buzzing again.”

Nor does Mills subscribe to the old cliché that you should never go back, having had two different spells as a player with Nottingham Forest and also as a manager with Tamworth.

In fact, despite seeming a tall order, he is confident he could emulate his past achievements with the Minstermen.

“If I didn’t feel it was right, I wouldn’t consider it,” Mills reasoned of a potential return. “Nor would I consider it if I didn’t think I could match what we did last time.

“I always had a great feeling about the club. It just feels right for me and I believe York City and myself are a good match.”

Having been dismissed by current chairman Jason McGill after a win-less run of 11 games began to place City’s Football League status in peril, Mills would also be glad to rebuild his relationship with the Malton businessman, whilst admitting: “I don’t know what the chairman’s thoughts are and whether he would want to go down the route of bringing me back.

“People and chairmen make decisions in football but, unfortunately, York have found themselves near the bottom of the Conference. I’ve been away and had a great spell at Gateshead and nearly got them up.

“Unfortunately, it didn’t work out for me at Wrexham, but that’s football. When I lost my job at York I was disappointed because, after what I’d achieved, I’d have liked longer to carry on.

“That wasn’t the case and life moves on, but I know what my capabilities are and the type of manager I am.”

Having witnessed City at close quarters this term – his Wrexham team triumphed 2-1 in an August meeting between the two clubs – Mills went on to stress that he feels he could make progress with the existing squad of players.

“I’ve seen games and, obviously, saw them against my team at Wrexham and I know I could get the best out of them,” he insisted. “There are some good players there who have lost their way and their confidence, which happens in the game.

“I’m the sort of manager who can go in and get that confidence back in a short space of time, as well as changing the atmosphere at the club to get smiles back on everybody’s faces. I’m a players’ manager who gets the best out of people and makes sure they enjoy their football.”