YORK City manager Billy McEwan would like to add four more players to his squad before the start of the new Conference season on Saturday.

McEwan has brought in ten players over the summer with centre-back James Dudgeon becoming the latest addition after the acquisitions of Mark Hotte, Clayton Donaldson, Mark Convery, Nathan Peat, Joe O'Neill, Ashley Wynn, David McGurk, Jamie Price and Emmanuel Panther.

But the City boss is hoping to further bolster his options before this weekend's opening game against Crawley Town at KitKat Crescent.

McEwan will also discuss the future of remaining trialists Ryan Mallon, David Pounder, Craig Mudd and Farhad Afandiyev in the coming days.

The City boss said: "I have brought in ten players and still feel we need another four to bolster our squad but I've been able to bring ten players in and I have got to speak to the board about how much of my budget is left before making a final decision on the trialists."

Another striker could be McEwan's highest priority with Andy Bishop still nursing a sore knee, leaving youngsters Clayton Donaldson and Joe O'Neill as the only fully-fit front men.

Bishop's knee problem and other niggling injuries to Panther (inflamed foot) and Convery (thigh) were the main reasons for McEwan's decision to call off Saturday's Possibles v Probables match at KitKat Crescent.

Youngsters David Stockdale (foot), Byron Webster (arm), Bryan Stewart (hip), Lev Yalcin (thigh) and Stephen Baynes are also sidelined.

The City boss said: "I didn't want any of the players carrying niggles to aggravate injuries and be out for the start of the season. We also didn't want to short-change our fans with an uncompetitive match."

Updated: 11:00 Monday, August 08, 2005