City boss set for summer rebuilding job

9:15am Monday 28th April 2008

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Colin Walker aims to sign "between four and eight" new players over the summer.

The York City boss has 12 senior professionals on the books, with free agent Craig Farrell yet to agree new terms.

Ten - David McGurk, Danny Parslow, Martyn Woolford, Simon Rusk, Richard Brodie, Jimmy Beadle, Ben Purkiss, Darren Kelly, Mark Robinson and Onome Sodje - featured in Saturday's final game of the season at Salisbury.

Goalkeeper Josh Mimms stayed on the bench during the 3-0 away defeat and Nicky Wroe missed out because of injury.

Walker will also have four first-year professionals in Andy McWilliams, Liam Shepherd, Josh Ratcliffe and Danny Stimpson, but is intent on strengthening his squad in the coming weeks.

The City boss has previously indicated the club might carry an 18-man squad next season and he said: "I'm looking to bring in between four and eight new players. We know we need to get better players in and we will do that over the summer.

"We conceded another goal from a set-play on Saturday and we need to get better players in there. That's what I've been working on and, hopefully, in the next couple of weeks, I will have a couple of signings.

"Next season will be a big season for the club with a number of good players coming to the club hopefully.

"We will have a better team for our first friendly on July 8."

Walker has challenged the current squad to return "mentally stronger".

He said: "We cannot seem to cope against teams who play a certain type of football on certain types of pitches. Salisbury put the ball in great areas and we defended very poorly, which happened at Histon as well.

"We also failed to put the ball in the back of the net with some fantastic opportunities and had an end-of-season look about us. That's totally unacceptable, but how many times have I said that since losing the FA Trophy semi-final to Torquay and that's all about mental strength."

Walker admitted playing Tom Evans, despite informing the 'keeper he will not be retained next season, might have been a mistake.

Walker said: "Hindsight is brilliant. I felt Tom had played really well in the last month and deserved his chance in the last game. It might be a decision I got wrong, but Josh Mimms will get his chance in the future. I also wanted to play Manny Panther as I had no midfielders, but he could hardly walk with an ankle injury."

Walker was frustrated that the season ended on a flat note for City's loyal travelling band of supporters, saying: "Our away support has been fantastic and I'm disappointed that's what they will go away for the summer with."