ROBERT Beaumont's letter (Evening Press, Monday, June 2), reads like a page out of Alice in Wonderland. His vitriolic comments don't appear to have been based on any facts.

He writes that Terry Dolan 'nearly took York City out of the League in his first full season as manager' and that 'his record was ultimately very poor'.

Terry Dolan took over one of the worst groups of players within living memory in February 2000.

In his first season City finished 20th, 13 points above relegated Chester - hardly 'nearly out of the League'. Gradually he weeded out the has-beens and never was's and in 2000-01 City finished 17th.

City improved still further and in 2001-02 City finished 14th.

Last season (2002-03) City were tenth and if they had been able to keep hold of Peter Duffield, would almost certainly have been in the play-offs i.e the top seven, because ultimately they needed only four or five more goals to achieve that position.

To go from 20th to tenth is hardly a poor record and while Dolan might not have been the most adventurous of managers and some of the football played was of low standard, credit has to be given where credit is due.

In my book, against all the odds, Dolan left the club in a far better position than when he took over.

One hopes the next incumbent has as much knowledge of life in the lower divisions of the Nationwide League as did Mr Dolan who I wish well in the future.

Martin Durham,

Cherrywood Crescent,

Fulford Road,

York.

Updated: 15:50 Wednesday, June 04, 2003