YORK City boss Gary Mills has reiterated his desire to remain manager of the club next season.

Mills has been given an ultimatum to agree a new reduced-terms contract at Bootham Crescent by tomorrow following a club statement and, while he did not want to comment on that situation, he is hoping to still be in charge for the 2017/18 campaign despite relegation to National League North.

Mills’ team came within minutes of staying in the National League before Guiseley’s stoppage-time equaliser condemned the club to the realms of regionalised sixth-tier football despite the players having displayed top-ten form since the turn of the year.

Re-emphasising his commitment to the cause, the former Gateshead and Wrexham chief said: “I want to be at the club next season but, at the moment, all my thoughts are with preparing for Wembley and preparing my players for that.”

Mills won the National League North title with Tamworth in 2009 before, three years later, going on to succeed where his five predecessors had failed by taking the Minstermen back into the Football League following a historic Wembley FA Trophy and play-off final double.

Having lost his job the following campaign after a win-less run off 11 games, he also went on to steer unfashionable Gateshead into the 2014 play-off final, where they were narrowly beaten 2-1 by Cambridge United.

In the club statement, issued on Monday night, chairman Jason McGill revealed: “The football club had, at its discretion, following relegation, the option to part company with Gary Mills without financial implication to either party. I decided, however, to make an offer to Gary, immediately after the game on Saturday, of further engagement as manager for season 2017/2018.

“The offer is commensurate with the status of a club playing in the National League North and has certain criteria and goals that must be achieved at key points during the season. I have given Gary until Wednesday this week to make his decision, as I believe the club cannot have managerial uncertainty, by leaving a decision until after Wembley.

“The manager needs to begin recruitment for next season immediately and we do not need to be playing catch-up with other teams in the league. Following Gary's decision, a further statement will be made regarding other issues facing the future of the club.”