DESPITE the steady increase in York City's attendances keeping a tight rein on finances remains crucial to the well being of the club's future.

Saturday's attendance of 3,506 against Exeter was City's highest of the campaign and the fifth highest in the Conference this season with the top four all attained by the Grecians.

It took the Minstermen's average home gate to 2,718, well above last season's average of 2,331, but the extra income is needed to keep City on an even keel.

City managing director Jason McGill said: "We are delighted by the boost in attendances at KitKat Crescent and would like to thank all those people who continue to support the club. Clearly the increase has been prompted by our on-pitch success so far this season and the fact that fans are now being entertained by exciting, attractive football which is good value for money.

"There is a definite buzz about the club and people in York are once again talking about York City for all the right reasons.

"The increased attendances clearly assist our financial position, but we still have to work with the Supporters' Trust to raise £100,000 to service the interest on the Football Stadia Improvement Fund loan we acquired to purchase the ground, with the first payment due in February.

"Also, November could be a tough month for us financially with only one home game against Burton Albion if we fail to progress in the FA Cup.

"Due to the club's recent difficult business history, balancing the finances at York City continues to be a difficult task which finance director Terry Doyle deals with very well.

"However, any additional cash accumulated will be made available to Billy McEwan to strengthen his squad and subsequently the team's chances of promotion back to the Football League."

Only Saturday's visitors, Exeter, boast a higher average attendance this season with 4,017 as the Devon club cash in on a good start to the campaign and the huge interest generated by last season's two FA Cup ties against Manchester United. Like City, York are also a supporters-run club.

At the moment, City, who have still the likes of Scarborough, Halifax, Morecambe and Stevenage to come to KitKat Crescent, are doing better than Hereford (2,623) and relegated Cambridge (2,609).

City, unbeaten at home in nine matches, have also seen their title odds slashed from 40-1 at the start of the season to 8-1.

Despite the great progress under manager McEwan, City surprisingly have no one in the five nominations for the September player of the month run by the Conference. The players shortlisted are Paul Wanless (Forest Green), Grays Athletic duo Jamie Slabber and Dennis Oli, Exeter's Lee Phillips and Iyesden Christie (Kidderminster).

Mark Stimson, boss of unbeaten Grays, has pipped Billy McEwan to the Conference's manager-of-the-month award for September.

Updated: 09:55 Tuesday, October 04, 2005