BEN PURKISS has revealed he is happy to stay at York City – but only if the Minstermen can secure the services of their best players for next season.

The 25-year-old right-back is out of contract, but has been offered a new deal by manager Martin Foyle after making it onto the City boss’ retained list.

But speaking after the club’s 2-0 loss to Stevenage in the FA Trophy final at Wembley, Purkiss said his driving aim was to make sure he was part of a York squad competing at the top of Blue Square Premier next season.

Purkiss has been frustrated in close seasons, arguing the club has been unable to hold on to their best players – making the task of rebuilding ever harder.

“I am going to have a sit down and look at things,” Purkiss said. “I want to be playing with a team that is going to compete and what I have seen over the two years I have been here is that at the end of every season the best players seem to go.

“You can’t keep finding Martyn Woolfords. You can’t keep finding Clayton Donaldsons. You can’t keep doing that. You have got to look after your players.

“On the whole, they do try their best with the budget they have got but you have got to make sure your good players stay.”

Purkiss added he wants to see the estimated £150,000 earned from City’s Wembley push used to keeping the cream of the current squad, while adding players who can aid in the push for promotion.

If that happens, Purkiss said his ties to the area meant he would be happy to remain at Bootham Crescent.

“I am settled in the area, the fans trust me, it’s a decent pitch at home and we play the right way. The manager plays the right way. It’s a traditional club,” he said.

“If we can use the money from this to keep the good players and bring personnel in who are going to put us up there, then I would be more than happy to stay.

“The fans don’t want to be 15th in the table and we don’t want to be going into games against Weymouth where we have to get a point to stay up. So there are a lot of things to look at.”