Mark Greaves to bow out with a sigh (From York Press)

Mark Greaves to bow out with a sigh

9:13am Monday 11th May 2009 in Sport By Peter Martini, peter.martini@thepress.co.uk

THE Wembley showdown could well have been Mark Greaves’ swansong as a York City player.

The 34-year-old has indicated he is more than likely to leave KitKat Crescent over the summer – but he has urged the club’s hierarchy to spend money made from the FA Trophy pay-day to boost a promotion push.

The veteran player, who is out of contract, does not want to hang his boots up just yet but wants to revert to his preferred position at centre-back.

He believes he is more likely to get a deal elsewhere.

“I probably won’t be here next season,” Greaves said. “I’m going to play another year at whatever club.

“But it’s not about me – it’s about York City. They’ve got some good players. For me, they want to keep a few of the squad and build on it.”

As for his own future, Greaves said: “I want to play centre-half next season. I appreciate the chance I’ve been given (at York) but I’m a centre-half and I want to get back to doing what I do best.

“I think Dan (Parslow) and ‘TY’ (McGurk) have been excellent and that’s why I’ve not been able to get in the side (at centre-back).

“That was probably my last game for York. I’m a realist. If I got offered something I would look at things but he (manager Martin Foyle) has got David and Dan and they’re both a lot younger. There’s Shaun Pejic as well.

“I’ve enjoyed my year. It’s not been easy and I would have enjoyed more games at centre-half but I’m not having a go at anyone.”

City staved off relegation from the Blue Square Premier, but Greaves was hopeful the prosperous run to Wembley would be a “springboard” for the club.

He said: “The finances are there for next season and if there’s investment from the chairman I’m sure the gaffer will want them to reinvest some of that, and I think that’s what the fans want as well.

“The money is a big thing and if they want to be successful they’re going to have to reinvest.

“The benchmark has been set by other clubs. We fell well short in the league but there are some good players here.”

As for the final, Greaves said: “There were a lot of chances at both ends, particularly in the first half. In the second half we came out of the traps and I thought there was a stonewall penalty.

“But I think Stevenage were worthy winners so congratulations to them. “Stevenage are an attractive side but we had chances in the first half and at the start of the second.

“But they got the first goal and we were chasing the game.

“It (defeat) does leave a sour taste in the mouth but I said to the boys, ‘take the occasion in your stride and hopefully you can get back here’.”