NEAL ARDLEY has backed Billy Chadwick to find his feet after a difficult start to life at York City. 

After arriving from Stockport County on a permanent deal in early January, Chadwick has struggled to make an impact at York with the attacker yet to register a goal despite a bright start in the 1-1 draw with Boreham Wood last month. 

Ardley has explained why Chadwick has found it hard in the early stages of his City career, with the York boss keen to protect his players from any blame with the Vanarama National League relegation zone lurking.

“I had a good chat with Billy the other day and I had a good chat with all four forwards individually," Ardley explained.

"Billy has come from a team that dominate the ball with total football, he links in and plays up as a nine and he’s come into a team that probably don’t play into his strengths as much.

"Once we get the ball into the oppositions half, I still want us to play and I don’t blame people for making a mistake that leads to a goal, I don’t do blame culture and I don’t name them in the Press.

"I’ve never had a go at anyone for trying something, my job is to get them into the final third and your job is to take risks.

"At the moment it’s a bit of just cross it or I’ll do this and just slide it.

"In the Dorking game the pass was just short and hopefully it will just spark, because I think that the players are good enough to do it."

Ardley also admitted that this isn't his preferred style of play, but that he can't be making changes with his players involved in a relegation battle.

"I've said it to the players, I don't want to play this way," Ardley admitted.

"Now is not the time to start trying to get players who are anxious, desperate to do well for the club and desperate to get over that finishing line of over 50 points, to do things that they aren't comfortable doing in the given situation.

"We want to play more in the oppositions half and we want to play the ball a little bit quicker, but once you get there you've got to be steady and that's the hard part.

"We have worked on it but it has to stick, we have to have better ball retention and have a knack for trust.

"If the forwards can spark off and get their games going, then we can certainly do that."