MICHAEL Rankine can be a “big character” for York City, according to the club’s new sporting director Dave Penney.

The 32-year-old striker is still undergoing tests for a high blood pressure problem that has kept him sidelined for the last three fixtures, but Penney is a fan of Rankine, having worked with the Doncaster-born targetman as assistant-manager at Guiseley last term.

Penney and Rankine both helped the Leeds club stay in the National League at the expense of the Minstermen with the ex-Oldham and Bristol Rovers boss saying: “Michael will be seeing another specialist on Wednesday and, hopefully, we can get to the bottom of what’s wrong with him.

“He’s a big character who I get on great with. We got the best out of him at Guiseley.

“He got us six goals in the division above but, first and foremost, we’ve got to get him back training and make sure his health is OK.”

Penney added, meanwhile, that he is looking forward to one of the key responsibilities of his new role – overhauling the club’s scouting network.

He explained: “I’ve got to find out what we’ve got now, which I don’t believe is a great deal, but I’ll look to use my contacts and find out what budget is there to send people out to watch future opponents, as well as look at recruitment, which is massive because, if you get that wrong, you won’t progress as a club. On Tuesday nights when we haven’t got a game, me and Martin (Gray) will also be going out to games to identify players that can make us better, because it’s important we see things with our own eyes as well.”