Colin Walker

YORK City Colin Walker believes he could still deliver success next season if he has to operate with an 18-man squad.

The Minstermen's board have indicated cost-cutting measures are likely at KitKat Crescent for the 2008/2009 campaign.

Reducing Walker's playing staff appears an inevitable consequence after six-figure losses over the last financial year, but the City chief, who took over from Billy McEwan in mid-November, feels such a move need not necessarily prove a handicap. The former Barnsley coach also added he intends to keep more players than he releases this summer.

He said: "There will be more players staying than going, but I'm actually in favour of reduced numbers because I'd rather work with quality than quantity. You can also work more on team work and individual work.

"I inherited 27 players, which was far too many. The squad's down to 21 now and that means, with injuries, it gives the opportunity for the likes of our youth-team players Andy McWilliams, Liam Shepherd and Adam Boyes to get on the bench and in the team. Eighteen quality senior players is also a number you could work with. If that's the case next season then we can have a little go irrespective of how much money we have to spend."

Walker added that he was already targeting signings to strengthen his squad in the summer.

He also refused to rule out recruiting part-time players if they are of the necessary quality.

Walker said: "I'm very well aware of where we need strengthening and hopefully we can keep the majority of this season's squad and add some. If part-time players, who choose to be part-time, are still good enough to be with us then we have no problems with that."

He added teenagers McWilliams, Shepherd and Boyes, as well as reserve 'keeper Josh Mimms, could all get a run out before the end of the season, but not until the club's fading play-off hopes are dead and buried.

He said: "At the moment, I want to win nine out of nine games and see where that takes us. If the time is right then some of the younger lads might get a game."

9:21am Friday 28th March 2008

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