AN internet survey on unofficial fans' web-site Red and Blue Net revealed this week that 88 per cent of respondents believe it is time that City boss Chris Brass is relieved of his duties.

Only ten per cent feel Brass should stay, while a further two per cent are undecided.

With more than a hundred votes cast, the results represented an accurate reflection of City supporters' opinions ahead of this afternoon's home clash with Forest Green Rovers.

Phil Simpson, the organiser of this week's poll, said: "Most York fans recognise that Chris Brass has been a legend for the club for nearly four years and, as a player, he will go down as one of the great centre-halves in recent times. However, I feel the results of the poll reflect that the fans are now battle weary, tired and exhausted and adamant that a change of management, playing style and personnel is required to prevent interest in York City declining further."

It is a fact that few managers would have survived a record-breaking end to the season that saw the club fail to win any of their last 20 matches and tumble into the Conference after a 75-year membership of the Football League.

Brass also acknowledged at the start of this season that he was given the means to assemble his own squad and honestly admitted that he would be judged by their results and performances.

He, as much as anybody, is bitterly disappointed by the club's 17th place standing in the Conference but what a poll of this kind does not address is would the alternatives be any better and what are the financial implications of sacking a manager less than 12 months into his three-year contract?

Other considerations are how long would the queue be of interested and proven managers outside Bootham Crescent, considering the salary a supporters-run club can afford and the resources that would be at any new appointment's disposal?

Not to mention how would a new manager motivate a group of players who appear so loyally aligned to their current boss and would Brass also be required and willing to stay as a player and what problems might that present for any successor?

They are all questions that are unlikely to be answered unless Brass is relieved of his duties but, should the axe swing, I believe most City supporters, despite the survey's results, would feel sorrow in equal measure to any sense of relief or satisfaction.

The majority of Bootham Crescent regulars among the survey's 88 per cent respondents are reasoned, sensible and articulate in their arguments for Brass' dismissal but the loyal Minsterman servant deserves no vitriolic attacks.

An honest man with strong leadership qualities, who approaches the job with passion, enthusiasm, pride and intelligence, Brass understands the traumas this football club's supporters have gone through more than perhaps an average football manager would.

He had three sleepless nights after the club's relegation was confirmed at Doncaster last season and his worst crime, should it ultimately be decided that his removal as manager is necessary, would be that he was thrust into a difficult job at 27 by a fledgling board forced to make decisions at the club because of the despicable actions of previous owners.

After the Supporters' Trust saved and assumed control of the club, City's new directors, all working long hours on a voluntary basis, admitted that they would make honest mistakes.

Striking a deal to stay at Bootham Crescent remains a historic and tremendous achievement, while awarding Brass a three-year deal in February was perhaps one of those well-intentioned errors.

However, while there might have been the odd raised eyebrow at the time, with Brass apparently performing miracles to keep the club in Third Division play-off contention, the Evening Press postbag wasn't brimming with too many dissenting letters. In fact, there wasn't one.

I believe if the board are to share culpability with Brass for the club's current league position, the context of any criticism against both parties should be measured against the plottings of previous boards because there is no comparison.

Long-gone but not missed regimes are still the biggest instigators of City's current plight.

Helping out at Christmas

THE shopping days - or rather York City matches - until December 25 are becoming fewer and fewer and the club are now hoping supporters will once more back the Minstermen Christmas Appeal.

This year's chosen charity is the York Arc Light Project which, based on Leeman Road, offers dormitory accommodation for 40 homeless people, as well as hot food, showers and medical services.

City fans are bring encouraged to donate warm clothing, bedding and blankets, toiletries, tinned and non-perishable food, games, books, arts and crafts equipment and first-aid items.

The collection point is at Bootham Crescent's ticket office or the club shop and the deadline for contributions is Saturday, December 11.

All items will then be distributed to the Arc Light Project by the players and management team.

City's Christmas Carol Service at St Luke's Church, Burton Stone Lane, will take place on Tuesday, December 14 at 7pm. Players, the management and staff will then join supporters for mince pies in the Social Club afterwards.

Malton milestone

SIX months since their inception the Malton Minstermen have passed the £1,000 fund-raising mark.

The achievement includes a £50 donation from 15-year-old James Staff, who also handed £150 over to the football club from a part share in his dad's winnings at York Races' Ebor meeting

Malton Minstermen's next guest will be assistant manager Viv Busby on Monday, November 22.

Minstermen fans in Army game

YORK City fans stationed in Iraq have had more recent football success than their beloved club.

Staff Sergeants Tosh and Hughes were both part of a team from the 2 Signal Regiment that won the recent Baghdad International Zone Football Tournament.

The two sergeants, along with another Minstermen supporter Major Clewlow, were deployed to Iraq in July for a six-month tour to provide communications support for the Senior British Military Representative.

Stockdale a real diamond

TEENAGE goalkeeper David Stockdale was the runaway winner of the Preston and Duckworth Jewellers/Evening Press Player of the Month award for October.

Stockdale, 19, was due to be presented with a framed photograph and Tissot watch before today's home match against Forest Green Rovers.

The City goalkeeper has been my choice as man of the match against Morecambe, Farnborough and Barnet during October.

He started the month with a brilliant penalty save in front of the Sky cameras at Morecambe and has ended it celebrating a call-up to the England National XI squad for under-23 non-League players.

Stockdale also topped our readers' poll at four matches in October and Gordon Martin, of Sycamore Terrace, is the lucky e-mail voter who will also receive a Tissot watch as part of this afternoon's presentation.

The Leeds-born goalkeeper has also moved clear at the top of the Evening Press Player of the Year standings, although Darren Dunning has closed the gap to two points after being the second highest-rated City player in the 3-1 FA Cup defeat at Carlisle.

Dave Merris took top honours at Brunton Park, with substitute Adam Arthur collecting the remaining point.

Current Player of the Year standings: Stockdale 14 points, Dunning 12, Robinson 11, Pearson 10, Merris 9, Bishop 8, McGurk 7, Stewart 6, Groves 4, Yalcin 4, Davies 3, Davis 3, Nogan 3, Brass 2, Donovan 2, Law 2, Arthur 1, Crichton 1.

Final Preston & Duckworth Jewellers and Evening Press Player of the Month standings for October: Stockdale 17, Merris 7, Robinson 7, Yalcin 4, Davies 3, Bishop 2, Dunning 2, Pearson 2, Stewart 2, Arthur 1, Groves 1.

Stats attack

GOALS: Darren Dunning 4, Andy Bishop 3, Paul Groves 3, Chris Brass 1, Lee Nogan 1, Paul Robinson 1, Lev Yalcin 1.

GOAL ASSISTS: Bryan Stewart 4, Paul Robinson 3, Lev Yalcin 2, Darren Dunning 1, Steve Davis 1, Dave Merris 1, Lee Nogan 1, Gary Pearson 1.

BAD BOYS: Darren Dunning four yellows; Gary Pearson 1 red card, 1 yellow; Chris Brass, and Chris Clarke both two yellows; Chris Porter 1 red, 0 yellow; Steve Davis, Paul Groves, Gerry Harrison, Dave Merris and David Stockdale all 1 yellow.

Updated: 10:56 Saturday, November 06, 2004