YORK City captain Chris Smith ignored interest from a League One side to sign a new one-year deal at Bootham Crescent.

The Press Player of the Year had options to leave the Minstermen on a free transfer under the Bosman ruling but has joined fellow out-of-contract trio Tom Platt, Dan Parslow and David McGurk in agreeing terms for the new campaign.

Smith, 31, also confessed that staying with City was always going to be the “right deal” after resolving commuting issues that will see him spend more time in York during 2013/14.

The former Mansfield and Tamworth centre-back said: “There were other clubs interested and, as a footballer, you are always curious to know who’s interested and what they can offer. I won’t name the clubs, but I was flattered by a couple.

“One club was from League One, but I didn’t want to go down that route.

“If I was going to leave, it would have probably been due to my family being based in Derby and the travelling involved, but I have come to an agreement with that situation and I will be living in York a bit more than before.

“The right deal was always going to be the one here and it’s not just about money. I have a connection with York City and like the club, the city, the manager and the lads.

“I’m also just happy to get a contract in the Football League because every year it’s getting harder for footballers to stay in the game. I thought I had a good season and deserved to still be a League player, but you don’t always get what you deserve.

“It’s nice to be wanted and nice my own club wanted me. The gaffer has only been here for ten games, so I was delighted he wanted to keep me.

Smith went on to reveal he was waiting for manager Nigel Worthington to commit his own future to the club before putting pen to paper himself.

The City skipper thrived under Worthington during the last ten games of the season and the ex-international and Premier League chief’s continued employment was key to Smith’s decision.

He added: “At the time the contract was initially offered, the manager wasn’t contracted himself and I told him I wouldn’t be making my decision until he had hopefully confirmed he would be staying. It’s not really heard of for a player to sign for a club without a manager and I wanted to make sure the gaffer would be staying first.

“That played a major part for me because I’ve liked the way he’s done things here and what he’s planning to do next. I just needed to sort out a few other things as well and now I’m delighted to still be at York and I’m really looking forward to starting the new season.”

Smith will be 33 when his new contract runs out next June, but he admitted his hunger for football is greater than ever and feels he is making up for lost time, having spent eight years outside the Football League after City were relegated at the end of his first spell with the club in 2004.

“I would love to stay here longer and stay in football for as long as possible,” Smith said. “I want to play at the best level possible until I am told otherwise or I can’t do it physically.

“I have an affiliation with the club and it would be nice to finish my career here but you never know what’s round the corner. When I left York nine years ago, it wasn’t in the best of circumstances.

“I kind of lost my love for football for a bit but I worked my way back up and then you appreciate it more. As a young lad, you probably take it all for granted and I wish now I’d pushed harder to get back quicker because it’s a privilege to be footballer in the League.”

• FORMER York City winger Matty Blair has signed for npower League Two rivals Fleetwood Town.

The 22-year-old Blair became the Cod Army’s first summer signing and will link up with ex-Minsterman Jon Parkin in the Lancashire club’s attack.

Said Blair: “The club are looking to get promotion and I am looking to kick on with them. I am really excited.”