YORK City are still hoping to secure the signings of Dan Parslow and Amari Morgan-Smith, but boss Gary Mills has admitted they could be lured elsewhere.

Both players spent the second half of last season with the Minstermen on loan from Cheltenham and have since been released by the Football League outfit.

The pair were vital members of the squad that displayed top-ten form following the turn of the year before the agonising final-day relegation to National League North.

Parslow and Morgan-Smith were, therefore, high on Mills’ wanted list as he considered those whose services he wanted to retain for 2017/18 and the City boss said: “We’re still looking to tie up Pars.

“He’s keen too and I’m confident we can get him, but he’s going to be weighing up his options. I’m hoping Amari will also be signing at the end of the week, as he’s said he wants to come back, but we always said that it was going to be the case that some of our players would get interest from teams in higher divisions and he might be looking at that as well.

“Any player in the game wants to play as high as they can for as long as they can, but I’m working hard to try and get them signed up.”

Contracted pair Vadaine Oliver and Alex Whittle, meanwhile, remain on the transfer list at their own request, but are yet to secure moves away from Bootham Crescent.

If that situation remains the same at the end of this week, Mills will welcome both back for the start of pre-season training, although he is undecided as whether to he would select either player if they’re on the books for the start of the National League North campaign on August 5, but still want away.

“Neither of them have got sorted yet and they will both be back in training with us on Saturday unless that changes,” Mills pointed out. “They’re both still looking to get away and, whilst I couldn’t rule out using them if they’re still here at the start of the season and wouldn’t be the sort to disregard them both because they’re experienced, it’s never ideal having players around who want to get away, because you’re trying to put a squad together for the season.

“I want people who want to play for York City and that’s why I brought Michael Rankine back, because of his passion for the club.”

Mills is also hoping unwanted quartet Ben Barber, Ben Clappison, Jack Higgins and Kaine Felix find new pastures at the earliest possible opportunity.

“Nothing has happened so far with those four, but they still won’t be part of my squad and will be training with the youth team,” the City chief outlined. “It might seem ruthless, but it has to be done for the good of the club and themselves, as I’m sure they would rather be playing somewhere else.

“I was hoping it would have been sorted out by now, because it’s not good for anybody having players just hanging around.”