York City boss Billy McEwan has expressed dismay at the contract clause that will see Conference top scorer Andy Bishop leave KitKat Crescent for nothing.

Under normal circumstances, City would be entitled to a transfer fee for Bishop as, at the age of 23, he is too young to exercise the Bosman ruling.

But it has emerged an agreement in the deal that saw former manager Chris Brass sign Bishop from Walsall has allowed the 25-goal forward to leave for free at the end of his two-year deal.

League Two outfit Bury announced yesterday they had completed the signing of Bishop, and McEwan said: "He can walk for nothing because of a contract agreed with a previous manager. Who would sign that type of contract?

"I've never seen it during my management career but maybe he (Bishop) would not have come here under any other circumstances."

McEwan added his surprise at Bishop's decision to join last season's League Two strugglers and the timing of the transfer.

The City boss believes Bishop would have been better served staying at City for another season or, at least, weighing up his options over the summer.

Bishop remains under contract at KitKat Crescent until the end of June but is understood to have signed a pre-contract agreement with the Shakers, leaving the Minster-men unable to even negotiate an improved offer to retain his services.

McEwan said: "He didn't make any form of contact with the club, which is disappointing. He could have been a man and spoken to us first but that's players and it's his prerogative.

"Jason McGill (City's managing director) was in negotiations with him so he was surprised to hear that he is joining Bury. The player's advisors also tell me they didn't know he was going there.

"I asked him in my office last week if he wanted to stay at York City and he said yes. He also said other clubs were interested but I thought he might have waited a bit longer to see what became available.

"I can't believe he's decided to sign for anybody just over a week after the end of the season and I can't believe he's signed for Bury. No disrespect but I don't see that as a career-enhancing move.

"If he had stayed with me another year, I could have made him a better player and got him a bigger club. We've worked hard on him and he's doubled his goal tally this season. I'm proud of that because he's not the easiest to work with.

"I understand he wants to be a Football League player but, if he's ambitious, then why sign for a club who are struggling to stay in it? We understand, however, that he's had a super offer and there's no way we could have matched it. We would have needed to sell a stand to keep him."

McEwan also revealed the club only received two bids for Bishop over the season.

He said: "He nearly went at Christmas as we had to try to turn him into money, considering his contract. His agent was touting him everywhere but we only got two enquiries. One came from Southport and was £2,000 and the other was from Bury - when the former manager was involved at both clubs."

Updated: 10:01 Wednesday, May 10, 2006