DARLINGTON keeper Adam Bartlett has revealed he turned down a move to York City because he wanted to stay in part-time football.

Former Bootham Crescent trialist Bartlett, 31, added that the Minstermen made two bids for his services, with new manager Martin Gray keen for the former Hartlepool, Gateshead, Hereford and Kidderminster net-minder to follow him down to North Yorkshire from County Durham.

Outlining his reasons for staying put at Blackwell Meadows, Bartlett explained: “I spoke to him (Gray), but it’s a full-time club. I played full-time for ten years, but I made a decision on coaching and playing about eight months ago when I came to Darlington.

“I’m back at Newcastle coaching on a part-time basis and it’s been great at Darlington from the off, so I wasn’t close to moving by any stretch of the imagination, but there was contact.

“The club turned down a couple of bids down anyway and I’m more than happy they want me here. I’m happy with my life at the moment, so it was no-brainer in the end.”

North-east sources have also reported that chief scout Harry Dunn will be leaving Darlington for the Minstermen, while striker Mark Beck is still understood to be on Gray’s radar.

Elsewhere, former City midfielder Simon Lappin has joined Southern League premier division hopefuls King’s Lynn Town.

Lappin has not played since rupturing his Achilles playing for the Minstermen in February.

City’s youth team, meanwhile, drew 2-2 at home to Carlisle with Flynn McNaughton scoring both goals.