York City boss Billy McEwan has asked critics of his team's recent form to consider the progress the club has made during the first year of his reign.

McEwan celebrated his first anniversary this week and can point to a ten-place improvement in the club's Conference position since taking charge.

But he was disappointed to receive an anonymous letter from a supporter this week questioning why the team had taken 28 points from their first 14 matches but just nine from their next 13.

The Minstermen's season will be two-thirds complete after tomorrow's home match with Aldershot and McEwan said: "This time last year we had an old team and I look at what I have got now compared to then and I am excited.

"That's no slight on the players last season because they kept the club up but I felt we needed better. We are pleased to have been up in the top eight all season but we knew it would be tough to win promotion overnight.

"Halifax, Exeter and Hereford are all former League clubs and are still in the Conference. It's not easy.

"But, a year ago, we were heading for the league below and now we have a team with an average age of 23 and they have done magnificently for the club so far. A lot of these players have never played consistently week in, week out at the clubs they have come from.

"Progress this season was getting in a respectable position and I feel we have achieved that. Some teams have said we are the best side they have played against and nobody said that last season.

"We went to Canvey and got beaten 4-0, which was the most embarrassing experience of my football career. It was rubbish and that was when action needed to be taken.

"Players like Paul Groves and Steve Davis did good jobs for York City but it's not right when a 39-year-old is winning regular man-of-the-match awards."

McEwan listed the loss of three captains - Mark Hotte, Nathan Peat and Emmanuel Panther - as a contributing factor to the club's slump during the second third of this season.

He also cited the difficulty of blending in loan replacements, loss of form to certain players and heavy pitches as possible reasons but added: "I don't want to use excuses. We have been disappointed recently but we have still only lost nine league games out of 27 and seven of those were by the odd goal - the others were 2-0.

"I think that's a fantastic record for little York City with a brand new team and a brand new manager. I have had to bring a lot of players in and, if anybody can do a better job, then they can come and try to do it but I know nobody can do a better job than me at this club."

McEwan has also invited any critics to request a face-to-face meeting rather than hide behind an anonymous veil, adding: "I have had letters from fans saying we were playing the best football at the club in ten years and Sir Alex Ferguson was on the phone telling me what a good job we were doing so we must be doing something right.

"We have had a slump in the middle of the season and people are asking questions but we still have goals to achieve. It was nice to be up there but it might have been an innocent climb.

"Don't get me wrong, we want to put a run together to get back up there but my message would be don't be too disappointed if we don't because we are still finding our feet. We know, however, that we are on the right lines.

"I have got a lot of work to do with these players and I need to get more as our squad is shallow but I think we have some tremendous kids and I am privileged to be given the chance to blend them into a good little club."

Updated: 09:37 Saturday, February 11, 2006