Foyle will need to find new ace for Diamonds

York City manager Martin Foyle faces the prospect of a crucial clash with Rushden & Diamonds this weekend now minus his leading striker and with his likely deputy currently unavailable.

So late in the day was Richard Brodie’s move to Crawley Town completed that it left the Minstermen chief with no chance of bringing in a replacement before the transfer window finally slammed shut.

That has in turn left him with only former Diamonds striker Michael Rankine and new England ‘C’ squad member Michael Gash to select from in the attacking third, due to the fact that ex-Braintree and Ebbsfleet marksman George Purcell is currently sidelined by injury.

“From a football perspective, it is very hard,” Foyle told The Press. “We can`t bring any loan players in for over a week and I couldn`t sign anyone because the deal hadn`t gone ahead.

“It is a nightmare for me. People won`t just loan players in the first month or two months of the season, while players are sticking put if they have a chance of making the squad.”