I HAD great respect for Viv Busby as a player and a coach for York City in the 1980s. His partnership with Denis Smith was the stuff of dreams.

However, I am afraid that his latest spell at City has - so far - been an unmitigated disaster. The results, with the exception of the win against Carlisle, have been extremely disappointing and the 3-0 capitulation at Northwich Victoria on Saturday was a disgrace.

But what has really upset me, and a large number of other City supporters, is that Busby seems unable, or unwilling, to see where the blame for City's desperate performances lie. Once again Busby attacks the youngsters (this time it's Lee Grant and Sean Davies, which makes a change from beating the verbal hell out of the hapless Lev Yalcin) instead of addressing the true culprits - the truly appalling Paul Groves and Lee Nogan.

Not only does Busby's misguided attack on City's young players destory their confidence, but it also allows Groves and Nogan to go unpunished and carry on dragging City down towards Conference North.

I have put a great deal of time, and no little money, into saving York City and it breaks my heart to see players who cannot, or will not, play decently get praise each week while youngsters, who are still learning the game, are pilloried.

Unless he revises this misguided and destructive approach at once, Viv Busby should be sacked.

Robert Beaumont

Minskip Lodge,

Minskip,

Boroughbridge,

York

Updated: 09:19 Saturday, December 18, 2004