YORK City boss Billy McEwan has branded Clayton Donaldson's agent Andy Sprott "an amateur".

Sprott also represented Andy Bishop - City's leading scorer at KitKat Crescent last season - and McEwan is concerned that the Winchester-based agent might have an unsettling effect on his 17-goal marksman.

A long list of clubs, including Hibernian, Wolves and Scunthorpe United, have been keeping tabs on Donaldson as the January 1 transfer window beckons.

McEwan recently questioned his 22-year-old striker's commitment levels in the face of transfer speculation but admitted his concerns were quashed by Donaldson's two-goal blast against Halifax.

City's boss, however, remains less than impressed by the actions of Sprott, whom he believes released a statement from his client that was the subject of a story in the Non-League Paper this week.

The article, which appeared under the headline "Donaldson is Unhappy", actually ended with the player quoted as being "happy to be scoring the goals to push us towards the play-offs".

Donaldson added that he was a bit disappointed to be singled out for criticism by his manager but went on to admit that he loved playing for York and that the reason he had not extended his contract at KitKat Crescent beyond this summer was that he did not feel it was the right time and that he wanted to keep his options open.

McEwan said: "I can trust reputable agents that have a good name and respect in the game but I can't deal with amateurs.

"Amateurs try to get into the heads of our players when I am working my socks off to improve them. Agents can't do that.

"Most of them haven't even seen their players play and I have no time for this one because he upset me with what he did with my last striker Andy Bishop. Bishop scored 11 goals in his first season at York and 26 the following season when I was manager but he never even thanked me or the club afterwards.

"Clayton is a lovely boy and I was surprised to see his comments but he's got an amateur handling his affairs which I am not happy with. I have blasted his agent on the phone because Clayton's not his player, he's a York City player and my player.

"I've spoken to Clayton and he understands the situation. He knows I have to make sure all members of the team are pulling the same way.

"His agent has never been to York City and I would not allow him through the gates anyway."

The Press was unable to contact Sprott for comment.