YORK City boss Steve Watson will be looking to invoke the enthusiasm of Kevin Keegan, the attention to detail of David Moyes and the man-management of Kenny Dalglish in his new role.

Watson played for both Keegan and Dalglish at Newcastle and was a member of the Everton squad that qualified for the Champions League under Moyes.

Admitting the trio left a lasting impression on him, the former Gateshead chief will now use a little of what he learned from all of them, as he looks to reverse fortunes at Bootham Crescent.

“In this situation, where the club needs a jolt of energy and enthusiasm, then I probably couldn’t look at anybody better than Kevin Keegan,” Watson reasoned. “When he went to Newcastle, he got the whole city rowing in the same direction and, if I can harness one per cent of what Kevin had, that would be great.

“David Moyes was also very good at defensive organisation and attention to detail, while Kenny Dalglish was a fantastic man-manager, so you try and take something and the best parts from every manager you work for.”

With four of City’s five loan players having returned to their parent clubs, Watson has been told that market will be open for him, meanwhile, to make further recruits.

The ex-England under-21 international is expected to take a good look at his inherited charges first, but pointed out that he could revisit targets earmarked during his previous job at National League Gateshead.

Watson also confessed he is excited by the potential to do business with more clubs at City.

“There is room to manoeuvre in the loan market, but I want to see what positions need strengthening too,” the ex-Sheffield Wednesday utility man pointed out. “I do have a long list of potential players that I’d like to bring in, as I had that drawn up at Gateshead and I’ll also be looking for favours from clubs.

“The locality appealed to me here, because I’ve got a good relationship with people in Sheffield whereas, at Gateshead, we were limited to dealing with Newcastle, Middlesbrough and Sunderland really. We couldn’t bring anybody in from further afield, but there’s more scope to do that down here.”

Watson went on to reveal that he knew nothing of reports linking the Minstermen to ex-winger Martyn Woolford, who is currently plying his trade at League Two Grimsby, but added that he would be open to running the rule over the 33-year-old if he was an option.

The new City chief also pointed out that he is no stranger to National League North, despite having spent his whole playing, coaching and managerial career at higher levels.

“I’ve been looking at games and players in this league, not knowing this was around the corner, but because Blyth and Spennymoor’s games tended to be the ones I could get to this season,” he explained. “As Gateshead manager, you’re totally isolated really and, if you had a night off and Harrogate weren’t playing at home, then the nearest National League game would be Manchester way usually.

“We also thought we might need to be shopping in this division the way we were going at Gateshead, so I’ve seen a fair bit of it.”

Shedding light on the circumstances that brought him to Bootham Crescent, Watson said: “A mutual friend put us in touch, and it all happened quite rapidly from then.

“We’ve agreed everything verbally and nothing else has been done, because I made the decision quickly, which I always did as a player as well.”