YORK City’s new sporting director Dave Penney has spelt out the boundaries between himself, first-team manager Martin Gray and chief executive Jackie McNamara.

The trio are all tasked to work together for the good of the club, but with well-defined parameters and former Doncaster, Oldham, Darlington and Bristol Rovers chief Penny has made it clear he has no designs on Gray’s job.

Equally, he stressed the need for McNamara’s position at Bootham Crescent and pointed out that the former City manager would be concentrating on matters away from the football field.

“Jackie is looking after all the things outside of football,” Penney explained. “He’s the chief executive and every football club has one now.

“I’ll be looking to see where we can improve things one or two per cent in other areas, because that all adds up to a better club. It’s a different role to what I’m used to and I’ll be looking to see where I can improve the club and mentor Martin.

“I’ll be using my experience as a player, manager, coach, assistant manager and scout to make sure things are refreshed and done right. I have been in football clubs with good infrastructures, so I know what one looks like.

“Martin will have final say on players. I’ll put some names to him and question him on different things, but he’s his own man.

“He’ll be picking the tactics and won’t be bringing in any player he doesn’t want. It helps the fact that we know each other well because, coming into this role, can lead to problems in terms of trust otherwise.

“I’ve got Martin’s back and I’ll be here for as long as he is. There will be no question of putting me in as manager.

“I’ve known Martin ten years from when I went to Darlington as manager and he’s always had a great work ethic. It went ever so well at Darlington for us and we should have got out of League Two, but then the club went into administration.

“He’s since become manager there in his own right and won three promotions, before not being able to take part in the play-offs last season, which kicked him in a bad area. He’s probably taken Darlington as far as he can, with their infrastructure and budget and this job gives him the chance to manage at the next level.”