Gary Mills has been named as York City’s new manager – as fans hope he can repeat his feat and see the club promoted back into the Football League.
And in a surprise appointment his predecessor as manager, Jackie McNamara, has been named as the club’s chief executive.
York City announced the double appointments on Sunday (October 16). Mills will take up his role immediately and will prepare the team for the Emirates FA Cup Fourth Qualifying Round replay away at Curzon Ashton on Monday evening.
He will be assisted by youth team manager, Steve Torpey.
Gary Mills was hailed a hero after guiding York City to FA Trophy victory at Wembley, followed a week later by play-off victory against Luton Town at the national stadium in 2012.
That finally ended eight-years of non-league football at Bootham Crescent. He was sacked in March 2013 after a poor run of 11 games without a win has left City only four points above the relegation zone.
Mills left Wrexham earlier this month after falling to 15th in the National League.
Take the team forward
York City says it received a deluge of applications from candidates at all levels in football who were both available immediately and also currently working as first team managers.
In a statement it said:
Gary was delighted to accept the offer and once the terms of his employment had been agreed with the Chairman, a meeting was arranged, at short notice, with Jackie McNamara to discuss his assessment of the current playing squad.
Gary is looking forward to returning to York City FC and making an immediate impact with both players and results. He is taking the team this afternoon for the first time, having stayed overnight in York.
Gary brings with him a depth of knowledge and experience at this level, together with a track record of getting the most out of players and is well known for his exciting, attacking and, when necessary, pragmatic brand of football to achieve positive results.
The club asked fans to join them in welcoming Gary back and urged them “to get behind him and the players, to achieve all our ambitions and goals, not only for the remainder of this season, but also for the important period leading up to the completion of the new Community Stadium in 2018”.
Assistant manager Simon Donnelly “has left the club by mutual consent”, while Craig Hinchliffe will continue as goalkeeping coach.
Jackie the new boss
Jackie McNamara has moved from the dugout to the office of chief executive.
The surprise promotion for the manager who oversaw York City’s relegation from league football last year, and who quit as manager after a terrible start to this season, took fans by surprise.
The club issued a statement which saidL
When required by the first team manager, assistance will also be provided by the chairman and chief executive, especially in relation to certain financial aspects of the playing budget. It is imperative that we support the first team manager by taking away the non-playing issues so he can focus on results.
The club said that it had “become abundantly clear that a full-time chief executive is required at York City Football Club and Jackie is keen to implement and conclude the work we began to overhaul the club from top to bottom confirmed in the chairman’s statement in April”.
The appointment of would also allow chairman Jason McGill, who will “still be responsible for football club strategy”, to focus more of his time to his business JM Packaging Ltd, “which has seen substantial growth over the last six months, with the successful gaining of significant new customers”.
The club wishes Jackie every success in his new role.