TWO factors combined to inflict a poor start to the current campaign for York City.

That was the view of former Minsterman Alex Lawless, now on loan at Blue Square Bet Premier rivals Luton Town, where City visit on Saturday.

Under the terms of his loan move, the midfielder cannot play in this weekend’s high-noon showdown.

But when trying to outline the reasons behind City’s poor start to the campaign, Lawless cited the sale of last season’s 37-goal marksman Richard Brodie on transfer deadline day and the fall out of losing May’s play-off final to Oxford as contributing factors.

Said Lawless: “I think it was to do with a hangover from last season.

“I thought Martin Foyle and Andy Porter had a really hard job on their hands after coming back from last season and doing so well.

“A few players left and, even though Richard Brodie did not have the best of starts to the season, I would put that down to the transfer speculation and rumours and, regardless of how you look at it, to lose his contribution of 30-odd goals was massive.”

According to current City manager Gary Mills, Lawless made repeated requests to move to Luton before the City boss eventually relented.

But the one-time Fulham reserve did not want to elaborate too much on his reasons for pursuing a transfer, saying: “That’s gone now and I don’t really want to start something by bringing it back up.

“I wasn’t desperate to leave but felt I would be furthering my career and it was as simple as that.

“Before Luton came in, I was looking forward to working with Gary Mills but, when they did, everything changed.”

The former Wales Under-21 international did, however, admit that on his departure he felt the tide was turning at Bootham Crescent following a difficult start to the season.

Lawless’ last appearance saw the Minstermen draw 0-0 at League Two Rotherham in the FA Cup and that kicked off a seven-game unbeaten run that earned Mills the Blue Square Bet Premier Manager of the Month award for November.

“Just before I left, I half-expected the results to go as they have been doing,” Lawless said. “Knowing how Gary Mills works, I would not be surprised to see the club further up the table either.

“He wanted to play football and introduced a good work ethic, which I thought was vital.”