IT pains me to say it, after such an excellent season, but City were terrible against Halifax Town.

What's more, Billy McEwan's bizarre team selection meant that we had no chance of beating Halifax anyway.

Mark Hotte and Joe O'Neill should never, ever, play for City again. Hotte has cost us so many games this season and I thought I was dreaming when I saw him replace the wonderful David McGurk in the centre of defence. McGurk at right-back?

O'Neill is another disaster and his lumbering presence up front forces both Andy Bishop and Clayton Donaldson to play out of position. Please, Billy, get rid. Now.

There is no doubt that Billy McEwan has had a good first season at York City. But it could have been ever better.

His blind loyalty to players such as Hotte and O'Neill (and, to a lesser extent, Nathan Peat) at the expense of Dave Merris, Bryan Stewart and Graeme Law is inexplicable.

Let's hope that Billy can learn from his mistakes. If he does, we can look forward to real success next year.

Robert Beaumont

Minskip Lodge,

Minskip, near Boroughbridge.

Updated: 10:49 Saturday, April 22, 2006