JOHN ASKEY is hopeful that York City’s play-off campaign can prove to be a “catalyst for the football club.”

York drew 1-1 at AFC Telford United at the weekend to ensure Wednesday night’s Vanarama National League North play-off eliminator clash with Chorley (7.45pm) would be played at home.

Should City overcome Chorley, they would sit just two matches away from a return to the Vanarama National League, having spent five seasons playing in regional football.

“We’re hoping it’s a catalyst for the football club and changing (its) fortunes,” said manager Askey.

“We all know the size of the club, it needs to be playing higher (tier) football.

“Hopefully we can achieve that. Moving to the new ground, we hope that’s the catalyst for better things.”

City’s draw against Telford, combined with a 2-0 defeat for Chorley at Spennymoor Town, gave them home advantage, a potentially decisive factor in the contest given that the Minstermen boast the division’s largest average attendance.

A booster crowd is expected for the first-ever play-off match at the LNER Community Stadium, following the club’s move to the ground last year.

“We’ve got the biggest support in the league,” Askey enthused.

“If the (stadium) is full, it’s whether or not Chorley can handle it.

“Our supporters need to get behind the players no matter what’s going on, they just need to cheer them, forget about people making mistakes.

“It’s so important that the club tries to get up, it means so much to everyone connected to the football club and the area.

“Hopefully, we can perform.”

While Askey’s full focus is on securing play-off success for York, who were the joint bookmakers’ favourites for promotion in pre-season, securing fifth position at the end of the regular season further indicated the turnaround he has produced at City.

A late January defeat at Gateshead left York in 15th, with some 10 places made up since then under Askey’s tutelage.

“This is a great opportunity - three games to win to get promoted,” Askey stated. “We would have taken that three or four months ago.

“Now we just need to rest up, do everything right.

“We need to train and prepare for the Chorley game and just try and put everything into it.”