JOHN ASKEY has said that he is sure there will be a budget available to him at York City after taking the position as interim manager.

Askey succeeded Steve Watson at York following the club’s 0-0 draw at Curzon Ashton, leaving pre-season title favourites City sat 11th in Vanarama National League North and 11 points adrift of division leaders AFC Fylde.

York have been hampered by injury for much of the season, forcing them into the loan market to bring in defensive reinforcements.

Jaden Charles played a handful of games at the start of the season while more recently defenders Mitch Hancox and Adam Senior have arrived and both started at Curzon Ashton.

Even with those new recruits, the Minstermen had just one senior offensive option - Jason Gilchrist - to call upon from the bench at the weekend as they searched for an elusive winner.

Throughout this campaign, former manager Watson spoke of the club’s reduced budget and inability to bring in several new signings.

Askey however said otherwise at his first press conference while in charge of the club.

When asked if there will be a budget available to him, Askey said: “I’m sure there will be. Obviously it’s going to take time and first of all I’ve got to assess the (current) players.

“I’ve got a good idea of what I would like to bring in. But the players have got to be available first and foremost, it’s no use bringing in bodies for the sake of it.

“It’s up to the players now to make it hard for me to bring anybody in.

“But, if we need to, I’m sure that we can wheel and deal and get people in.”

Speaking on the issue, York City managing director Steve Kilmartin did not rule out further spending on players.

He said: “The last budget was fully expended and more because we brought in a striker after that budget had been spent already.

“Things are tight but as always when you have a new manager, they have their own style of play, their thoughts, their processes.

“I’d look for him (Askey) to do some wheeling and dealing.

“If he comes forward with propositions which are taking the club forward, which is our whole objective of course, then yes we will consider those.”

Askey steps up to the role of interim manager having previously assisted Watson following Micky Cummins’ suspension.

The move leaves him looking for backroom staff to add to his management set-up.

“At the moment, we’ve got Tim (Ryan) from the youth team,” Askey explained. “People who I know, that I would usually bring in, are already in jobs.

“I have got two or three (in mind) that I have already spoken to, but I don’t want to rush into it. I want to try and get the right person.

“Ideally, it would be someone that knows that league or, failing that, someone who I know and doesn’t live too far away.”

York have fallen well short of expectations so far this season. Even though they find themselves as close to the relegation zone as they are to top of the table, points-wise, Askey believes “there’s nothing wrong with the players here.”

He insisted: “We’ve got more than enough and I’m pleased with what’s available to me.

“Whatever the (injury) situation, you have to adapt and make the most of it.

“I think whoever we play in this league, we’ve got more than enough to match them. If we play to our capabilities, there’s no reason why we can’t start winning games.

“Hopefully we have a good start and it snowballs.

“But sometimes that doesn’t happen and it’s a case of being patient until we get what we want, whether that’s bringing more players in or getting the players to have more of an understanding of what we need.”