LAST season's Press Player of the Year David McGurk has told York City he wants to join the KitKat Crescent club on a permanent basis.

Centre-back McGurk excelled in 39 appearances for the Minstermen during a successful loan spell in 2005-06 but returned to Darlington in May and has since been offered a new contract at the League Two club.

Fellow Football League outfits Bury and Bristol Rovers have also made tentative approaches but McGurk has signalled his intention to sign for City instead.

Should City make a move for McGurk, however, Darlington have indicated that they would require a transfer fee, which would be payable if the 23-year-old defender helps Billy McEwan's men gain promotion from the Conference.

McGurk said: "I have spoken to the Darlington manager and told him I want to sign for York and I have told York I want to sign for them. I know Darlington are asking for money, depending on whether York get promotion, so it is up to Billy (McEwan) and Jason (McGill) now.

"The Darlington manager has said that if I want to stay there's still a contract there for me and there were other clubs interested but they were keeping me hanging on. Bury and Bristol Rovers kept ringing me initially to see about my situation but they never made a contract offer and must have had other targets ahead of me. I've said to my agent that I don't want to mess around because I was happy at York last season."

McGurk was due to resume training with Darlington today and the Williamson Motors Stadium outfit have a trip to Scotland planned for next week.

But, with City boss McEwan returning to work today, McGurk will be hoping a deal can be concluded before then.