VADAINE Oliver has chosen York City’s scrap for National League survival over the opportunity to join a higher division club.

The 25-year-old forward, who spent the first half of the season on loan at Notts County, is rebuilding his career at Bootham Crescent after being offloaded by the Minstermen over the summer, winning The Press man-of-the-match award during his first start for the club in nine months at Aldershot.

City chief Gary Mills revealed that a Football League club were interested in Oliver’s services prior to this week’s transfer deadline day.

The transfer window does not apply to National League sides, but Oliver will not now be able to move up a division during the remainder of the season, with Mills praising his commitment to City’s cause, adding: “Somebody did come in for Vadaine, but the positive is he’s still here, which I’m pleased about.

“We had a chat and he is up for the fight. He’s now got to continue what he’s been doing and create and score goals, while making life difficult for the opposition.

“I believe this is the right place for him and I’m the right manager for him at this point in his career. He’s come back and is enjoying his football and we need good players who will work hard between now and the end of the season.

“Hopefully, he can now be a major player in helping us achieve what we want to.”

Mills went on to stress that he was happy to part company with Justin Johnson, who has not featured at all since the City chief took over as manager in mid-October, while first-year pro Nick Kennedy has also left the club.

On-loan, 20-year-old winger Johnson was recalled by parent club Dundee United and has now been released from the Tannadice outfit too with Mills saying: “I’ve got to be careful with what I say but, if you’re lucky enough to have a job as a footballer, you have to work hard to get the best out of yourself.

“I didn’t see that drive or desire from him within two days and that’s why he’s not here now.”

With City still able to make signings outside of the Football League window, Mills does not feel the need to bolster his ranks at the moment, but has not ruled out acting if injuries strike.

“If we lose two or three players from this small squad, then we will probably look to bring somebody in,” he explained. “Shaun Rooney and Lanre Oyebanjo aren’t fit at the moment, but I can still work with that. If somebody else goes down, then we’ll look at it.”