Discarded defender Andy McMillan hit out today at York City whom he said had branded him 'an outcast'.

McMillan told the Evening Press he had been given little choice but to agree this week's cancellation of his contract, which ended 12 years at the Bootham Crescent club.

The official club statement printed on this page said the release of McMillan from his contract and registration with the Football League had been done by 'mutual agreement'.

But McMillan bridled at that statement adding he had been 'forced' into it.

The man, who figured in 492 games for City, said he was given little option but to sign the release adding he faced the prospect of being without a wage for two months if he had contested it.

In a bitter finale to McMillan's long career at Bootham Crescent he said he would not be going back to the club 'for the forseeable future'.

McMillan maintained he was told by City chairman Douglas Craig that he would 'become a forgotten man in football' if he did not agree to this week's cancellation five months after he was first put on the transfer-list by City manager Neil Thompson.

If he did not sign McMillan's contract could be cancelled anyway. The right-back said the chairman told him: "You will not be allowed to train. You will not be allowed in the building.

"You will not be allowed to play for the reserves, or you will not go anywhere on trial'.

"He said I would become a forgotten man in football."

Under Football League regulations City were able to cancel the contract, which McMillan said would leave him without wages for six weeks while he contested that decision.

A further appeal by the club could delay payment by another two weeks. Said the defender: "I would have to go two months without money. I have a wife and young son and another baby on the way in two weeks. I could not cope with that.

"I don't see that as mutual agreement. I had no choice."

City chairman Craig refused to go into any details about the discussions the club had with McMillan save to say: "We have given a statement and all I want to add to that is he was paid a five-figure sum on cancellation of his contract."

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