FORGET Michael Proctor, Craig Wilding is aiming to become the new goal king of Bootham Crescent.

With 14-goal hit-man Proctor heading back to his home town club of Sunderland after a productive season-long spell, the York City fans have been left with a striking void.

But 20-year-old former Chesterfield striker Wilding, who has played two reserve games on trial and has been training with City at Wigginton Road and Fitness First, has set his sights of filling this role when he officially signs for the Minstermen on July 1.

And the Birmingham-born hopeful knows he will benefit from the experience of the likes of Lee Nogan, Peter Duffield and Alex Mathie - just as Proctor did.

"I know Michael scored a few goals while he was here so given time hopefully I can do the same," he told the Evening Press. "My aim is to be a fans favourite, but there is a lot of work ahead.

"Obviously I've got to work hard to get in the team but hopefully playing alongside the likes of Lee Nogan, Peter Duffield and Alex Mathie will be good experience for me and will help develop me.

"I think my main strength is holding the ball up and bringing other people into play - but I can score goals and I will score goals.

"I haven't set myself a scoring target just yet. I will do once the season gets started, but for now I will just work hard through the close season, get myself in the first team and take it from there."

As well as the chance to learn from the likes of former Welsh international Nogan, Wilding can wait to get going alongside the fellow youngsters which were given first team chances last season.

Youth stars Leigh Wood, Lee Bullock, Stephen Brackstone, Russ Howarth, Stuart Wise and Lee Grant, to name a few, were among those who were given a crack at the first XI last season.

"This was the first place that I came to," he said. "I think there was the possibility of a trial up at Hartlepool, but I came here and was impressed with things here.

"They have got a lot of young lads who have played in the first team and that is something that I didn't get at Chesterfield. That is what I was looking for.

"I was a trainee, then had a year as a pro at Chesterfield but never got a chance in the firsts and when the new manager took over I was pretty much expecting to be released.

"Hopefully I will now get a few games in the first team at York and start scoring a few goals to help the club finish as high as possible."

While Wilding can now look forward to next season, he is well aware of how lucky he is that he has signed for a club - with a huge fall-out now expecting from the collapse of ITV Digital.

"I'm definitely happy to get a club sorted, there's going to be a lot of players without clubs in the summer," he added. "I was just happy to come to a club and get a contract.

"I think eight or nine others were released from Chesterfield with me as they are scrapping the reserves and running off a squad of 20.

"A few of my mates are still looking for clubs. They were told that they weren't wanted even later than me so they haven't had the chance to get out and about. Hopefully they will sort something out."

City were today waiting to hear whether former Rangers, Huddersfield Town, Sheffield United and Cambridge left-back Tom Cowan will become the club's second signing of the summer. he was offered a contract yesterday.

Updated: 11:52 Friday, May 03, 2002