YORK City defender Josh Robinson is set to return to former club Crusaders after failing to shine at Bootham Crescent.

The former Northern Ireland under-21 international has been deemed surplus-to-requirements by manager Gary Mills and last played for the first team nine months ago.

He made only five appearances following his arrival on a two year deal last summer and spent six weeks on loan at Boston United.

Crusaders finished second in last season's Irish Premiership but Robinson, 23, had won back-to-back titles during his first spell with the part-timers and also played in both the Europa and Champions League.

He is one of five 'under contract' players who have been told to find new clubs by Mills along with Ben Barber, Ben Clappison, Kaine Felix, and Jack Higgins.

Teenagers Tyler Walton and Alex Bruton have been released and striker Vadaine Oliver and defender Alex Whittle transfer-listed at their own request.

Out-of-contract players offered new terms by the club are expected to make decisions on their futures this week.

These include goalkeeper Kyle Letheren, defender Danny Holmes, and winger Adriano Moke.

Other players out-of-contract include Scott Fenwick, Danny Galbraith, Simon Lappin, Robbie McDaid, Lanre Oyebanjo, and Callum Rzonca.

Only striker Jon Parkin and defender Sam Muggleton have signed new deals since the club's relegation to National League North.

Captain Simon Heslop, winger Aidan Connolly, goalkeeper Luke Simpson, midfielders Clovis Kamdjo and Sean Newton, and defenders Matt Fry, Yan Klukowski, and Shaun Rooney are under contract for another 12 months.

Mills may also be monitoring the availability of Dan Parslow, Hamza Bencherif, Asa Hall, and Amari Morgan-Smith who finished last season on loan at Bootham Crescent.

Former York defender John McCombe, meanwhile, has rejected a new deal at Macclesfield Town and signed for National League rivals Chester .