Transfer-listed Michael Potts bids to prove York City chief wrong

11:40am Tuesday 14th August 2012 in Sport

York City’s Michael Potts wants to remain at the Crescent

MIDFIELDER Michael Potts has declared his determination to fight for a first-team shirt at York City – but admits he may have to join another club to
play regularly.

The 20-year-old former Blackburn Rovers trainee has been told he is surplus to requirements at Bootham Crescent by manager Gary Mills and is determined to buckle down and try to prove him wrong.

Admitting his disappointment at being placed on the transfer list, Potts has been heartened by his cameo role in the Minstermen’s League Cup penalty shoot-out defeat at Doncaster Rovers on
Saturday.

Brought on by Mills to score from the spot, Potts did the job as one of City’s two successful takers and said he is pleased to still be in the frame as York begin life back in the Football League
at home to Wycombe Wanderers this weekend.

Realising he is up against it, he has vowed to do all he can to get back into the side. But Potts, who has a year left on his contract, would be willing to leave if a suitable club makes an
approach.

“It’s obviously hard with me being on the transfer list,” he said.

“All I can do is prove the gaffer wrong and show people what I can do. I think I’ve been doing really well in training recently – the lads have been telling me to keep my head up – and all I can do
is keep going.

“I have got a lot of support behind the scenes and, you never know, in football things can change just like that.

“The gaffer brought a couple of midfielders in over the summer and, obviously, I had it in the back of my mind ‘am I going to play?’ and ‘should I go and see him and ask to go out on loan?’ “To be
fair, he approached me and said I was going to be still involved but I was going on the transfer list because, if teams came in, I needed to go out and play.

“He said I was a young lad and a good player but wasn’t what he needed at the moment.

“He did the right thing telling me. I would rather know now if I can go to a club, but it is going to be hard because a lot of clubs have already got their teams set.

“At the moment, I am trying to get back into the York team. York is a great club – with the fans and everyone behind the scenes – and I would love to be here but if someone comes in for me I am
willing to go because I need games.

“I will fight for my place and I will still train 100 per cent and give it everything.”

Asked what his seven minute outing at the Keepmoat and subsequent successful penalty meant to him, Potts added: “It makes me feel a lot better. The last couple of weeks have been really hard. It
has been ‘what do I do?’, ‘no one wants me’ and that I am not getting any games. I look at the young lads, like Paddy McLaughlin, and they are playing every week and that’s what I want.

“I am going to carry on going and this gives me the fight to keep going and hopefully change the gaffer’s mind. I have to take it as it comes. I am not going to get my hopes up because I will get
down about it (if I don’t play). We will see what happens.”

And Potts is in no doubt that, with or without him, the Minstermen have the squad to make a successful impact on League Two.

He said: “I thought the lads did really well against Doncaster. They (Donny) weren’t going to score if they didn’t get the penalty and we can compete with whoever we are playing. We are a good team
and we’ve got the ability.”

Comments(2)

long distance depressive

says…

12:08pm Tue 14 Aug 12

Can’t knock the attitude.
long distance depressive

OLD – HEAD

says…

1:24pm Tue 14 Aug 12

I watched this lad, before the match, firing in practice shots against Paul Musselwhite. He rarely hit the target, so when he stepped up to take a penalty, I held my breath. But he took a lovely penalty, and scored comfortably. He has a good attitude and I wish him well. But he will probably have to move away to get a regular game.
OLD – HEAD

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