NEW York City boss Viv Busby today revealed it was his predecessor Chris Brass who persuaded him to lead the Minstermen.

The bombshell news that Brass was to be axed as player-manager prompted Busby to tell the City board that both he and Brass' assistant Lee Nogan should also be shown the Bootham Crescent exit.

But in pledging total loyalty to the new regime Brass then convinced Busby he should stay and take on the job of dragging the Minstermen out of a slump that sees them languishing fourth from bottom of the Conference.

And buoyed by Brass' 'outstanding commitment' to the club despite his anguish at his sacking, caretaker manager Busby today defiantly declared that City could yet return to the Conference promotion race.

Said the man whose first Crescent connection helped to herald record-breaking Football League success in the mid-1980s: "It was a massive bombshell to hear the news about Chris. My first reaction was to say that both Lee (Nogan) and I should also go. After all, I came here to help them on the coaching side. I was not arriving to take anyone else's job. So I thought that both Lee and myself should also be shifted out.

"I then spoke to Chris and Lee and it was Chris who said I should take on the job adding that he would carry on as a player and would do his best for us.

"He has been hurt by the decision and I know how he feels because I have been there myself. But he is man enough and strong enough to return as a player and he said he will support Lee and myself all the way in the hope that we can turn things round."

Busby had nothing but unreserved praise for his predecessor and the way he remained determined to do all he could to restore better days to the Minstermen.

"The thing is he is in love with this club as we all are. Through all this he has been absolutely fantastic," said the new man in charge.

"He has conducted himself in a tremendous way. He assured me that what has been done is now the right way to go. Chris has been outstanding in a time which is absolutely gutting for him. He is brave enough, big enough and is passionate enough for this club."

With no money to hand - Busby has been told that he will have to get on with the resources already there at the Crescent - the new manager stressed that everyone would have an input, including the demoted Brass.

And Busby believed that provided City could keep their more senior players fit - and there were now only two players injured in Steve Davis and Paul Robinson - then they had enough talent on the camp to not only clamber clear of their lowly position but also generate a late promotion surge.

"It is still not too late to get out of this division. You only need to put a run of five or six wins in say a ten-match spell together," said Busby. "We have to stop conceding silly goals like we did against Forest Green and we have to start taking our chances like we didn't in that match.

"The players are good enough if we can keep them on the pitch."

Updated: 10:40 Wednesday, November 10, 2004