YORK City defender Matty Brown is not being coy about his ambitions for this season - he wants the Minstermen promoted.

Speaking at the first team's first training session back after their extended close season, the 31-year-old centre-back said York must achieve their goal "by hook or by crook".

Since their relegation to National League North for the start of the 2017/18 season, York have had just two full seasons in their bid to return to the nation-wide tier, and none under manager Steve Watson.

Brown says pre-season has begun well - but insists that the talking must be done during the proper campaign.

“Being a York City player, you’ve got to have that confidence," he said.

“Let’s make no bones about it - we’re here to be promoted. The goal is to get into the National League and once we’ve done that, who knows where we can go?

“This year has got to be a ruthless mindset of doing whatever it takes to get promoted. By hook or by crook, we get promoted.

“Everyone in the squad is on board with that.

“We’ve had some good additions to the squad.

“Considering it’s the first session back, the quality has been decent.

“But it’s a marathon, not a sprint. It’s not where you are pre-season, it’s where you are come the season - that’s the when the medals are won.

“We’re hoping to have a good, injury-free pre-season but we’ve got our minds fully set on the season."