York City’s return to the Football League is over.
They were relegated from League Two after a 3-0 defeat away to promotion chasing Accrington Stanley.
That left the club on 33 points from 43 goals – nine points adrift of next team Newport with two games to play. Their goal difference, at -30, was the second worst in the league, behind bottom club Dagenham & Redbridge.
It means City are out of the Football League after only four seasons back. They were last relegated into the Conference in 2004, and only won promotion eight years later, winning the 2012 Conference play-off final at Wembley.
When current manager Jackie McNamara took over in November 2015, City were one place above the relegation zone.
At the time, he told journalists he hoped to instil a “winning mentality” at the club. Sadly, it didn’t happen. But club chairman Jason McGill has said that McNamara will stay in charge despite relegation.
‘It’s disappointing’
Jackie McNamara told BBC Radio York that relegation has “been hanging over us for a few weeks.
“It’s disappointing. It’s not something you want. We’ve paid the price for not being good enough in certain games, and not holding on to victories, wasting points, sloppiness, concentration…
“There’s so many things you can put your finger on that have cost us this season, and we’ve paid the price for that.
“I don’t believe we’re the second worst team in the league. But certain things like today shows certain weaknesses in our team.”
Does he accept the criticism he’s received from fans?
Obviously I feel it’s my team. We’ve had to do things to try and plug gaps and change things, and try and help us over the line.
I always knew the toughest part was going to be to stay in the league, and building for next year. The building process is going to be important and, for me, hopefully what I’ll be judged on.
‘It was inevitable’
City captain Russ Penn told Radio York: “We haven’t gone down on today, we’ve gone down over the whole season. A lot of errors that could have been avoided.
“I feel sorry for the fans, I feel sorry for the young lads who have come into this environment because it’s learning the hard way.”
He said he understood the frustration of the fans. “I probably would be the same. Probably not as volatile. They were having a go at some of the young players – it’s not their fault.
“They can have a go at the old pros. I can take it – I’ve been round the block. It hurts – it hurts me more than anybody, whether they believe it or not, it’s up to them…
“Hopefully we’ll learn from this and come back stronger. A lot of hard work over the summer.
“This is a big club which has got to be in the league, and we’ve got a big chance next year to do that.”
How are the players feeling?
It’s not about today. I think we’ve been in the bottom two since Yeovil – the first of Jan – and we’ve just drifted away really.
Fans’ react on Twitter
What is really depressing is that we can't even say we're unlucky. We can't say we tried our best. We're crap, gutless and don't care. #ycfc
— Shaun Wathey (@Wathey) April 23, 2016
Majority of players that just don't care, a manager that's clueless and a chairman that seems to be losing the plot. Only 1 outcome #ycfc
— Stuart Garrington (@StuGarrington) April 23, 2016
Jackie McNamara
York City FC manager
P28
W4
D6
L18
Win ratio: 14.3%— Chuitar (@chuitar) April 16, 2016
Never in the field of football conflict have so many been let down by so few. #ycfc pic.twitter.com/RtMi4QpSpX
— Y Front (@YfrontFanzine) April 17, 2016
Some gave all. Most gave too little, too often. The shame belongs to your careers, our pride will be in tact no matter what division. #YCFC
— WE ARE YORK (@WEAREYORK) April 23, 2016
Absolute standard of this season. Clear out the dead wood. Not going to be an easy few years. Hope McGill is happy #ycfc
— Simon (@spattinson001) April 23, 2016
"York gone down?"
"Uh-huh"
"They're not coming back are they?"
"They might?"
"No, they're not" #YCFC pic.twitter.com/mGi3Qc37O5— JJ (@Jaytwo86) April 23, 2016
Wilcox?McNamara?Both take blame,but lets not ignore fact we had squad capable of keeping us up,but most the time just couldnt be arsed #YCFC
— Bobbinson Crusoe (@bobbinsoncrusoe) April 23, 2016
RELEGATED
York City's stay in the Football League is over.https://t.co/vM3HsIK9aw #bbcfootball pic.twitter.com/MkEmaYg8wQ
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) April 23, 2016