YORK City boss Billy McEwan has criticised the Conference's transfer window system for hindering attempts to bolster his defence.

Key defender David McGurk is expected to be ruled out for at least a fortnight after undergoing a throat operation yesterday while fellow centre-back James Dudgeon has returned to training but has not played for a month after suffering from a virus.

McEwan had hoped to bring in another defender on loan this week to ease the pressure on rookie duo Danny Parslow and Luke Foster after Saturday's 4-2 defeat at St Albans but, because of the transfer window regulations, the Conference will now only sanction temporary switches in emergency situations.

With Darren Hollingsworth joining Conference North side Stalybridge Celtic on loan today, McEwan could argue that he now has just two fully fit centre-backs on his books and is today waiting to see whether he will get the go ahead to bring in a fresh face.

But he added: "It's wrong that we are subject to the same rules and regulations as Premiership clubs. They can go out and buy in the summer and then the window closes but we don't have the money to get a squad of 30 to cover for injuries.

"We also need to be careful with our budget because we can't shop at Harrods. We have to go to Netto although, as we have seen, there can be some good bargains at Netto.

"We've been told we need a valid reason to bring a player in on loan but if you get an injury you are expected to throw in a 17-year-old who might not be ready. We have got a couple of young players in the heart of our defence at the moment and it's new to them.

"They are a new pairing and with Darren Craddock suspended tomorrow, we will also have a different defensive unit against Tamworth. Some of our players have pressure on them for the first time ever and I hope people understand that.

"Pressure does funny things - just ask Andriy Shevchenko at the moment. Our kids need encouragement because they are the way forward for York City and shouting at them will kill them."

Anthony Lloyd is expected to replace Craddock against Tamworth at the Lamb Ground tomorrow.

Fit-again Ross Greenwood is another option at right-back but is likely to be on the bench after his lengthy absence because of illness.

McEwan also assured fans that he had not intended a heat-in-the-moment threat to leave the club after the St Albans game to be taken literally and put the result in context, saying: "Nobody wants to concede four goals in a game especially me but I am struggling to count on one hand the amount of poor performances we have had this season and last. That's 58 games and I can't think of five, which is a strong statement to make and says a lot for everybody at the club.

"But what happens now if we lose five or six on the trot? Does that mean I'm a bad manager, I get sacked and all the good work goes down the tubes? I hope not because that's Mickey Mouse. What would have happened at Manchester United if they had taken that approach with Alex Ferguson?

"We are still building a football club and it takes time but I'm putting all the hours and commitment in that I can. Just ask my wife - she never sees me!"

Tomorrow's squads

Tamworth (probable): Bowles, Weaver, Laight, Thomas, Harban, Smith, Storer, McGrath, McAllum, Burton, Atieno. Subs: Ward, Cooper, Stevenson, Kendrick, Neilson.

City (probable): Evans, Lloyd, Foster, Parslow, Peat, Convery, Panther, Bowey, Woolford, Farrell, Donaldson. Subs: Reid, Bishop, McMahon, Greenwood, Webster.

Kick-off: 3pm