'HANDS-OFF' York City have turned down a £500,000 bid for one of their stars.

Manager Alan Little revealed the offer was not thought enough, adding that City were in a position where they did not need to sell off any more of the family silver.

The club, however, remain tight-lipped about the subject of the bid - upped in three distinct stages over a four-day period earlier this month - or the source of the cash.

But there are several possible candidates on the City payroll, who would attract that sort of investment.

l Dynamic midfielder Alan Pouton was monitored in his first full season last term by a posse of clubs after he established himself in the side at the age of 21.

l Captain and defender Tony Barras, currently battling against a hip injury, was the subject of a spurned £350,000 bid by Wigan Athletic before the transfer deadline.

l Winger Graeme Murty returned to the sort of blistering form that got him off the transfer list and rewarded with a new contract.

l Despite a hiccup in form striker Rodney Rowe amassed 16 goals in his first full season and is still short of his 23rd birthday.

The mystery bid would seem to exclude another rated player in Steve Bushell because he is soon to come out of contract.A new deal put to him at Christmas remains as yet unsigned.

Any prospective purchaser would need only wait until next month to home in on the Manchester-born midfielder.

An initial offer of £350,000 was tabled for the unnamed City player at the end of the season in talks between Little and a rival manager. But it was turned down after being relayed to City chairman Douglas Craig.

The money was increased to over £400,000 only to be discarded once more. Then the cash bid was swelled to £500,000. Little again informed Craig and the response was the same - the offer was rejected.

Said Little: "They came back to us three times over four days and each time the offer was knocked back. When I said 'nope' to the last one the manger said he would have to look in another direction. He will not be coming back again."

Manager Little bluntly refused to be drawn into any speculation as to the identity of player or club, save to say that he believed there "was a lot of value in the York City squad".

But while the City manager stressed there was no pressure to off-load he added that talk of the club having £1million in the bank from the sale of Jonathan Greening to Manchester United in spring was way off target.

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