The sacking of York City manager Chris Brass has been on the cards for several weeks now and was inevitable after Saturday's inept performance against Forest Green.

However, many City fans must realise that had the rest of his players shown even 70 per cent of the determination and fighting spirit Brass has shown during the past 12 months, we would still be a Football League club.

Before any of the current crop of players start criticising the fans or the board they should seriously consider how badly they have undermined the manager.

Brass put all his faith in his players over the past 12 months and generally he has been sadly repaid.

The board of directors, clearly very naive at the time, and only six months into his management baptism, rewarded Brass and Lee Nogan with extended contracts, clearly not merited at the time and no doubt something which they have lived to regret as it has tied their hands over the last nine months.

One must also question the role and input of the other coaches and exactly what they do - Nogan, Paul Stancliffe and even Viv Busby. Clearly Brass has taken all the flak for the past six months yet these other coaches are in the background. What positive effect has Busby had over the past six weeks?

I do hope Brass is able to continue in his playing role at York and that the boo-boys do not try to hound him out.

The rest of the City players should try to match his commitment to the cause and prove him right when he defended them.

Come on York City fans, get behind the club, manager, team (including Brass) - it's OUR club, OUR team, and no-one else's.

Val Duggan

Holgate,

York.

Updated: 11:21 Thursday, November 11, 2004