Oops, Leo cuts loose on City...

11:43am Saturday 17th May 2008

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FORMER York City striker Leo Fortune-West is hoping to help Cambridge United clinch promotion from the Blue Square Premier at Wembley tomorrow.

But the 37-year-old veteran, who rejoined Cambridge for their play-off push a fortnight ago after spending four months on loan at KitKat Crescent, does not feel the Minstermen are equipped to mount a top-five challenge of their own next season.

City finished 2007/2008 in 14th place and 18 points short of the play-off positions.

Fortune-West believes that gap is too large to bridge even though Cambridge only finished four points above the Conference drop zone themselves last season.

In a frank interview, the 6ft 4ins forward also singled out Martyn Woolford as the only City player capable of performing at a higher level and argued that he deserved to start more than seven matches for the Minstermen following his January arrival.

He said: "The league is getting harder and the Conference probably deserves more than two teams going up because 24 teams going for one automatic promotion spot is very difficult.

"If you look at the size of the crowds at York, they are not going to be able to attract the better players there this summer.

"I think when Colin Walker took over at York there was a honeymoon period and the club went on a very good run without playing too many of the better teams. Once reality set in, mid-table was probably where we should have been."

Statistics actually contradict Fortune-West's assertion that City only picked up results against weaker sides under Walker, who claimed the scalps of Aldershot (2-0) and Exeter (3-2), held Burton (0-0) and Torquay (0-0) and only lost to Cambridge (2-0) in meetings with the division's top five.

The two-legged FA Trophy semi-final against Torquay also saw a win apiece for each club although the Gulls won 2-1 on aggregate.

From those games, Fortune-West only figured against Burton and Torquay and felt his chances were unfairly limited, hinting how City's style did not suit his strengths.

He said: "I didn't get enough games although I played the last four which was weird. I understood the manager needed to look at his team for next season but I think, on merit, I should have played more.

"Football seems to be very different nowadays though. For me football's all about making an impact in both boxes. You don't get points for keeping the ball."

Fortune-West admitted The Press Player of the Year Woolford caught his eye at KitKat Crescent.

"I would give lots of respect for Martyn Woolford," he said.

"He's a great player who I think would be better if he had better players around him but he's under contract. He could play a lot higher but he's probably the only one out of all the York players."

Fortune-West added that former Newcastle Benfield forward Richard Brodie needs to work on his physical presence and fellow striker Onome Sodje should use his speed to greater effect.

He said: "The young strikers have potential but need to get stronger. If York want to be pushing for a top-five finish the teams at the top of the table play differently and are harder to break down. I think York find that difficult.

"Richard will improve, though, when he gets stronger and Sodje's got such great pace but doesn't use it. He takes too many little touches on the ball when he could take one big touch and go past the defender."

Fortune-West was on the bench when City defeated Cambridge's play-off final opponents Exeter 3-2 at home in March but the veteran is reading little into that result.

He said: "We scored cheap goals and gave them cheap goals as well. I think tomorrow will be all about which team settles the quickest.

"It could come down to a piece of magic or a mistake."

Fortune-West will be ending the season at Wembley for a second successive year. He was in Shrewsbury's losing side in the 2007 League Two play-off final.

His previous play-off experience also resulted in defeat at the semi-final stage as a Cardiff and Rotherham player.

He is likely to be released by Cambridge regardless of Sunday's result but intends to carry on playing, saying: "I'm fit enough and good enough. It's just up to a manager to think the same."

...but boss Walker hits back

YORK City boss Colin Walker has denied former striker Leo Fortune-West's suggestion that the KitKat Crescent club would not be competitive in the transfer market this summer.

Walker pointed to his signings of Northern Ireland international goalkeeper Michael Ingham and ex-Burton utility man Mark Greaves as evidence to refute the Cambridge striker's assertion City will struggle to attract players capable of improving on last season's mid-table finish.

He said: "I've signed two quality players and will hopefully be bringing in two of three more and I really don't think we will be far away next season. Yes, we can't compete with the likes of Rushden and Diamonds financially. They've just signed Lee Phillips and Daryl Clare for big money but I also think I would be reluctant to shell out so much on players."

Despite Fortune-West's frank comments, Walker sent the 37-year-old striker his best wishes ahead of tomorrow's play-off final against Exeter.

He said: "I have the utmost respect for Leo.

"He's had a great career in football and, while he was here, I told him his season might end at Wembley."

Have your say

Is Leo Fortune-West's verdict on City right?