INTERIM manager Tim Ryan admits he needs to get the "energy and smiles" back into York City's players following the shock sacking of John Askey.

York sacked Askey on Wednesday, despite a hugely successful year in charge, during which time he delivered promotion from the Vanarama National League North, an spot in the Isuzu FA Trophy semi-finals and safety from relegation in the National League thus far this season.

A clash of personalities between Askey and chairman Glen Henderson appears to have led to the manager's departure, much to the dismay of the club's supporters.

City's players have also been vocal in their anger too, with defender Michael Duckworth labelling the decision as "outrageous" and full-backs Ryan Fallowfield and Scott Barrow both describing the move as "madness".

“They’ve had time to stew and some of them have made their voices heard," said Ryan, speaking ahead of tomorrow afternoon's home clash with Wealdstone (3pm).

“As professional footballers, throughout your career and in life, you go through things that aren’t something that you enjoy, like or agree with.

“The players are honest and they’re a great bunch. They’ll go out there and give everything.

"I’ll do the best I can to support them to get the energy away from situations that are non-football and direct them back onto the pitch.

“What I’ve got to do at this moment in time is get the energy and smiles back among the lads. That comes with winning games.

“Hopefully we’ll start well and get three points for York City.”

Ryan hopes that the players can put in a performance Askey would be proud of.

“These are all John’s players and they respected and liked him a lot," he said.

“What I said to them was, ‘As a professional footballer, what would John expect from you?’

“He would expect the lads to give everything they’ve got. The standards that he has set, the lads can’t drop below it.”

A febrile atmosphere is expected at the LNER Community Stadium as supporters are given their first in-person chance to make their feelings known to the club board on the decision to remove Askey.

“That’s not something that I’m going to concentrate on, to be honest," said Ryan.

“Whatever goes on in the terraces, if you’re tuned into the match and tuned into doing the best job you can on the pitch, you don’t really hear the fans.

“It’s not something I’m concentrating on.”

Without a win in their last six in the Vanarama National League, York face a Wealdstone side coming off a 1-0 win at Altrincham and a 0-0 draw with second-placed Wrexham.

Wealdstone are 14th in the table, two places and one point below York. The majority of their points this season have come away from home.

City head into the contest without wingers Maziar Kouhyar and Nathan Thomas as well as midfielder AJ Greaves, although defenders Adam Crookes and Ryan Fallowfield are fit again.

Ryan reported: “Nathan Thomas is out with a niggle, AJ is coming back slowly but surely and Maz is still in the treatment room.

“I’m not too sure what all the knocks are, I’m not 100 per cent up to speed with every player yet.

“Crookes is back and in contention, he’ll come into the squad. Ryan is back in too. He’s trained this week and he’ll be in the mix.”