IAIN DUNN described Adam Hinshelwood’s appointment as the new York City manager as an ‘exciting prospect’, after the new boss was unveiled on Tuesday evening.

York legend Dunn backed Hinshelwood to improve a drab City side that find themselves level on points with the Vanarama National League relegation zone, with the former Minstermen striker hoping to see Hinshelwood implement a more exciting style of play.

Hinshelwood’s appointment comes with a promise of open, attacking and expansive play, replacing former boss Neal Ardley, whose dismissal admittedly surprised Dunn.

“It’s an exciting prospect really, you look at Adam Hinshelwood’s record, the way he likes to attack teams and score goals,” Dunn told the Press.

“That’s something that all York City fans, regardless of the team we’ve had this season, would love to see York City become capable of.

“Hopefully he can bring some of that attacking flair to the club, and bring us some exciting football to watch.

“I think for all of us, it’s been a really tough watch in recent weeks.

“To be fair to Neal Ardley, he felt that he had to shut up shop and grind out results.

“That has started to not work too well for him, so I just get the feeling that this change has been brought about with the hopes of a new manager being able to inspire the players to be more exciting.

“To express themselves, we all want to see attacking, free-flowing football with a lot of goals, that’s something we haven’t really seen at the LNER or away from home this season.

“I would imagine that the new manager would come in and tell everyone that they have a chance to impress.

“Those players will want to impress their new manager, work out quickly what it is that he wants from them on a matchday.

“There’s nothing that the manager will want more than to win games, that’s the same for all of us, so the players have got to get on board with that really quickly.

“It gives the players who haven’t been getting into the team a lifeline really, a chance to impress their manager and kick start their York City career.

“Some of them haven’t played for quite some time, but they will be looking at this as an opportunity hopefully to impress their new manager.

“I said it a couple of weeks ago that we were grinding results out, but you can only do that for so long, there’s got to be the next step in what you’re playing.

“I think Neal Ardley would have got there eventually, but the games are running out this season.

“You need to attack the opponents and give them something to worry about, I think that this is what this appointment is all about.

“It’s a manager who will make the opponents think about us, rather than the other way round, which is what we have seen in recent weeks.

"I think the new manager will want our team to be feared, we’re not going to sit back and we’re not going to soak up pressure, we’re going to go out and attack.

“That’s we want in these last few weeks, a chance for York City to go out and upset other teams, and to give them something to think about.

“You look at this new manager’s record, and that’s the kind of guy that he is.

“He’s come to a bigger club with bigger standards and there will be opportunities from York City for him.

“Coming from a long way away, he’s had to commit himself up north so he clearly believes in himself and that is massive.

“A manager needs to know what he’s going to do and know how he is going to turn things around, I think that all of the York City fans can be excited by that prospect.”

Dunn also admitted that he was surprised to see Ardley sacked by co-chairs Matt and Julie-Anne Uggla, despite the club’s concerning league position.

The former striker did understand the decision though, but paid homage to Ardley after his spell as manager came to an end following 34 matches.

“I was (surprised), just because there were 11 games left.

“I liked Neal Ardley, he spoke really sensibly and he was a good guy, he was an honest manager.

“Maybe too honest at times, I still believe that given the time, he would have turned things around for York City, but it’s a result-based business.

“It’s brutal, recent performances have gone against him really, not necessarily results because there have been results but mainly just performance.

“Matt and Julie-Anne have put a lot of money into the club and they want to enjoy it, but I don’t think they could have enjoyed it in recent weeks, I don’t think that any City fan has enjoyed the football on offer.

“I can totally understand why, as shocked as I was on Monday to hear the news, I could understand why.”