MARK Maley expressed his delight at committing himself to York City until the end of the season then immediately signalled his intent to avoid a relegation dogfight.

As reported in the Evening Press, Maley will now be at Bootham Crescent for the rest of the campaign after extending his loan deal from Sunderland.

"It's great to have everything sorted out. You know where the future is going to take you now," said the former England youth international skipper.

"It does play on your mind about what is going to be happening - whether I'll be back at Sunderland or playing here.

"I'm pleased to have the chance of playing in the first team and the club have looked after me very well so I just want to get my head down now and try and get a bit more consistency."

Despite the great lift last Saturday's FA Cup win over Reading had given the club, the full-back was adamant the team had to brush aside all thoughts of Grimsby, who they will meet in the third round in the New Year.

And despite City's lowly position - the Minstermen are just four places and three points off the bottom of the Football League - Maley is convinced City's star can soon rise.

"We have to put the cup to one side," he insisted ahead of tomorrow's visit of Cheltenham to Bootham Crescent.

"We have had a couple of good results in the cup but it is in the league where we need to start stringing some results together.

"There is not a lot of points between us and the top teams but we need to get out of the bottom half and two or three wins could do that."

Maley admitted the season had proved a swift learning process for a young City squad and the benefits could take time to reap dividends.

But he argued the team was simply too good to be in the position they currently occupy.

He said: "The club had a lot of older players last season.

"This time they are trying to build for the future.

"The average age of the team must be 22 or 23 at the minute.

"We are looking long-term but, definitely, we are far too good to be near the bottom of the table, without a doubt.

"Even against Darlington in our last league game, it looked as if we got hammered when you see the result.

"But it was silly little individual mistakes. Once we can get rid of them I am sure the results will come."

Maley admitted Christmas, with its flurry of games, was a good opportunity to make up lost ground, starting with tomorrow's visit of the Robins.

He said: "There are seven or eight games coming up quick and if you can get three or four wins strung together you can get back in the top half."

n Tomorrow's match, kick-off 3pm, offers £1 entry for children under-16 to the David Longhurst Stand when accompanied by an adult.

Updated: 08:43 Friday, December 14, 2001