REACHING 52 points and safety in League Two.

That's the first target York City chairman Jason McGill has given new boss Jackie McNamara on his arrival at Bootham Crescent.

McGill has outlined long-term goals in the former Scottish international's remit at the City helm, such as making more of the club's academy system. But the first priority has to be to turn around the immediate fortunes of the club who find themselves third from bottom with only 12 points from their opening 16 games.

The Minstermen sit just three points above the Football League drop zone having taken just two points from their last eight matches, a record which saw Russ Wilcox sacked nine days ago after a year at the club.

"The short-term goal is to get safe in this league," said McGill, as ex-Dundee United boss McNamara and number two Simon Donnelly were unveiled as the new team in charge.

"But Jackie is a very positive person and I'm not sure for Jackie and Simon that just being safe is good enough.

"That's where the board are at, at this moment - to get to around 52 points firstly and who knows what happens from there.

"A long-term goal is to change the football club, to improve the football club's infrastructure off the pitch. We want to develop and nurture the talent in the academy, which is something Jackie and Simon have done at previous clubs very well.

"We also want to get the team playing exciting, attacking football.

"There will be aspects they will be looking at and bringing their experience to, which is more of a long-term plan.

"The short-term goal, however, has to be the focus at this moment in time."