EX-YORK City favourite David McGurk has described Gary Mills as the “perfect choice” following his old boss’ reappointment as first-team manager at Bootham Crescent.

McGurk was a member of the City squad that Mills took over six years ago when the club were floundering in the lower reaches of the Conference.

The ex-Tamworth and Notts County chief subsequently masterminded a charge up the table that almost resulted in securing a play-off spot, before overseeing a historic Wembley double of play-off final and FA Trophy glory the following season.

With City currently sat 19th in the same division, McGurk is now forecasting a top-half finish for his former team under Mills, saying: “He’s the perfect choice because, if you look at the other candidates who were being mentioned, nobody else comes close.

“I know he was disappointed to lose his job last time, but he’s got that feeling for the city and the club. He got the club back into the Football League, which was the be all and end all at the time.

“He’s then gone away and it’s not as if he’s struggled. It didn’t quite work out at Wrexham, but he got Gateshead one game away from promotion to the Football League, which was some achievement.

“He will be a breath of fresh air and will get some confidence into the place again. I would expect them to now go on and finish in the top half of the table this season, although the play-offs might be out of reach.”

Outlining how Mills transformed the club’s fortunes following his 2010 arrival, the former two-time Press Player of the Year added: “Everything was positive.

“He wasn’t interested in your weaknesses. He told you what you were good at and took a lot of pressure off the players.

“He also gave us a lift in training. It was enjoyable, but intense at the same time and we worked hard.

“Everything was two-touch and we had some good footballers in the team. He played a 4-3-3 formation which he believed in from the past and everyone bought into it from the start.”

McGurk also argued that the quality of play during Mills’ first full season in charge was of an unprecedented standard, reasoning: “Some of the football we played was the best I’d ever seen.

“I remember being on the bench for the Grimsby home game that season and saying I’d pay to watch this. Even the Grimsby players couldn’t believe what they had seen at that level as they walked off.

“It wasn’t so much about the work we did in training, but the confidence he gave us to go and play, pass the ball and enjoy ourselves.”

Along with an attractive style, Mills also stiffened up a defence that had shipped five goals during Martin Foyle’s final match in charge at Mansfield and four under caretaker chief Steve Torpey at Newport.

The next ten matches saw only four goals conceded and Mills’ next job is to address problems that saw just four clean sheets kept in 48 fixtures under his predecessor Jackie McNamara.

On Mills’ often unheralded work at the other end of the pitch, McGurk added: “Back then, it was similar to what you hear from the best coaches in the Premier League now in that, when you’re attacking, you set up to counter the counter.

“He put together a system that was well-drilled. Everyone knew their responsibilities and we always had somebody sat in front of the back four.

“I remember Jimmy Sangare doing that, as well as David McDermott, which surprised a lot of people and Pars (Dan Parslow) when the club went up.”

With Mills having managed four different clubs in the highest tier of non-League football, McGurk went on to point out that his ability to identify new signings is invaluable.

“As much as we all talk about tactics, the importance of recruitment is huge,” the 34-year-old Hyde United centre back explained.

“If you don’t know the league, the level and its teams, you will struggle. Gary will know most of the players in the league and I’m sure he’ll be looking to bring people in.

“He also has tried-and-trusted players he often turns to, as he did when he brought Chris Smith back to York.”