As promised some while ago, I'm going to work through the League backwards, and canvass views on the prospects of every BSP club for the coming season.
One of the advantages of the "backwards" technique is that I shall reach The Mighty Robins last ! Another is that York City SHOULD be a relatively easy club to assess !
When they were first relegated to the Conference, York City had been one of those familiar victims of financial mismanagement. I'm old enough to remember their FA Cup semi-final appearance, their lone season in the second tier of English football, and their victory over Manchester United in the League Cup.
It hasn't always been an easy ride for them at this level, but last season was heartbreakingly close to getting them back into the Football League. They OUGHT to be able to sustain League football, given the size of York itself, and the decent catchment area around (Leeds United and Hull City are their main threat as far as fan depletion is concerned).
They earned a considerable number of Brownie Points from me for not matching Crawley's bid for Matt Tubbs, but the fact that they were prepared to offer £55K suggests they DO have sufficient funds to further enhance an already strong squad.
They're not my first choice for the automatic promotion spot, but I would be amazed (and very disappointed, because I like the club) if they weren't in the play offs again this term.
I can forgive them the loathsome Richard Brodie - I'm already on record as saying I'd not like him at our club, but I do accept that he's going to get them 20+ goals again (if someone doesn't maim him first).