JOHN ASKEY has said York City have "one or two irons in the fire" as the interim boss looks to strengthen the Minstermen's squad.

In all, Askey says he wants to add "two or three" players, which City have been freed up to do by the departures of Mark Beck and Jason Gilchrist.

York are also willing to extend their welcome of midfielder Kieran Wallace, whose loan from Burton Albion expired earlier this month, and Remy Longdon, who is due to return to parent club Lincoln City at the end of the month.

The Minstermen have another weekend without a fixture as Covid infections have forced scheduled opponents AFC Fylde to call off this Saturday's fixture.

This is frustrating for City's National League North aspirations in the short term, but there are a couple of bright points to be drawn from it as injured players continue to get back to fitness with training still on, and coaches will be able to head to other games to scope out potential signings.

On Tuesday, York travel to Whitby Town in the North Riding County FA Senior Cup last eight before hosting Slough Town on Saturday in the FA Trophy fourth round.

Asked if some of his recruitment plans could come to fruition by the Slough game, Askey responded: “We want to get two or three in but as I keep saying, it’s no use getting people in if they’re not what we want.

“We keep asking and there are one or two irons in the fire.

“Hopefully one or two will drop but there are no guarantees.

"Now Mark Beck has gone out and Gilchrist has gone to Buxton, we’ve got the opportunity to bring people in," he continued on the topic of the Fylde postponement.

“It will be nice to take in a game - hopefully one that means something because there aren’t that many games on.

“The positive is that we’ve been able to get people fit. There’s only Woodsy who’s not available to us now.

“And we’ve been able to train. Hopefully that will be an advantage to us when we do next play.

“We’ve got the Trophy game against Slough, which is one to look forward to."

Arriving in November from League One outfit Burton, the 26-year-old Wallace was Askey’s first signing after he took the managerial reins from Steve Watson.

He made his City debut in the FA Trophy win over Blyth Spartans, and went on to start each of the subsequent six games, latterly providing valuable cover in central midfield for Akil Wright, who had dropped into defence to stand in for suspended centre-half Matty Brown.

Wallace arrived at the LNER Community Stadium with the goal of boosting his match fitness, having suffered a season-ending anterior cruciate ligament injury in February, and that aim remains.

“Kieran was only going to be with us for a month and see when he went back to Burton whether he’d be in their plans, which he isn’t,” Askey explained.

“He’s trying to fix himself up with a League club but while that doesn’t happen, we’re still prepared to take him and get him as fit as possible if he’s thinking about moving on.

“If that doesn’t come off with Kieran, we know what type of player we want for that position and hopefully somebody will become available who will improve us.”

Meanwhile, Longdon is set to stay at York until the end of this month, after which time Askey is keeping his options open about the winger, who - thanks to the trio of postponements City have endured - has only featured against Matlock Town and Alfreton Town.

“He’s showing signs. He’s done quite well in the two games,” Askey said. He’s looked lively and I think he’s improved us, especially having the two wide men - it’s given us natural width and pace in a team that I felt needed it.

“I’ll be having a chat to Remy but, again, if somebody else comes up and I feel he will do a better job, then we’ve got that option as well.”