JON Parkin is ready for a “fresh start” under new boss Martin Gray after admitting he was disappointed by the departures of the previous management team.

The 35-year-old forward was brought back to Bootham Crescent by Gary Mills and Darren Caskey last December and went on to net 22 times in 36 outings under the pair after being deemed surplus to requirements at League Two Newport.

A match-winning brace during Gray’s first game, meanwhile, took the former Stoke and Hull forward’s tally to eight in nine games this season and, even more impressively, 20 in his last 23 appearances.

Parkin is no stranger to dugout upheaval with Gray the 26th manager he has plied his trade under in 18 years as a professional – a list that started with ex-City coach Eric Winstanley at Barnsley and also includes the likes of Tony Pulis, Dave Bassett, Peter Taylor, Phil Brown, Brian Horton, Alan Irvine, Dave Jones and Malky Mackay.

Having bagged a match-winning brace in Gray’s first game in charge – the 2-1 home win against Brackley – Parkin’s experience has seen him emerge unruffled by the change in hierarchy, even though Gray and sporting director Dave Penney’s predecessors departed with a sense of sadness.

“I was disappointed for Gary and Cask,” the 6ft 4in target-man confessed. “They brought me to the football club and I really enjoyed working with them.

“But it’s not the first time it’s happened during my career and you just have to come in the following Monday ready for a fresh start.”

Parkin’s first goal – a header from Sean Newton’s corner flicked on at the near post by Dan Parslow – saw one of Gray’s dead-ball training-ground drills reap immediate dividends on a match day.

But the prolific marksman believes City’s players will still require more time to get used to the former Darlington chief’s methods, as they look to close the 11-point gap to National League North leaders Harrogate Town.

“There’s a lot of hard work to do,” he explained. “We’ve still got to learn how the gaffer wants us to play as he’s only had a week to put across his ideas but, if we put the effort and commitment in, we won’t be far off.”

Parkin was typically modest when congratulated on his significance to Saturday’s victory, but also revealed that he asserted his seniority after winning the 86th-minute free kick that spectacularly settle matters.

“I scored the goals, but it was a team effort and everyone contributed towards the game,” he reasoned. “For the first goal, Pars won the flick-on and it was just about me reacting then by getting my head on the ball and keeping it down.

“When we got the free kick, I then thought I’m having this. Josh Law and Sean Newton both questioned it but, as the oldest player, I can pull rank a bit.

“I knew I couldn’t get the ball up and down over the wall because it was too close, but I spotted a gap and managed to put it in the top corner. I’m pleased with the goals, though, because they were my first at home this season, so that was a relief, but the most important thing was the three points.”

Parkin finished the game with 16-year-old Ryan Edmondson – the third-youngest City first-team player in the club’s history - as a striking partner.

On his 73rd-minute introduction, Parkin added: “It’s a bit daunting to make your debut at 16, but I’m sure he’ll learn and get better and he’ll now want more having had a little taste of things.”