Nigel Worthington resigns as York City manager

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Nigel WorthingtonImage source, Getty Images
Image caption,

Worthington guided the club to the League Two play-off semi-final last season, where they lost to Fleetwood

York City manager Nigel Worthington has resigned with the club one place above the League Two relegation zone.

The Minstermen lost 3-1 at Newport County on Saturday and have won just once in the league all season.

The former Northern Ireland boss said:, external "In recent weeks, performances have not been up to my high standards and I take full responsibility for this."

Worthington at York City

Won

Drawn

Lost

23

29

24

His former number two Steve Torpey has been put in charge of the team in a caretaker capacity.

Worthington, 52, took over at Bootham Crescent in March 2013 and guided the club away from relegation danger in their first season back in the Football League.

They finished seventh in the table last season after ending the campaign on a 17-match unbeaten run, but were knocked out of the play-offs by eventual winners Fleetwood.

After starting the new season with five successive draws, a win at Stevenage in September stretched their unbeaten run in regular league matches to a club record 23.

However, that remains their only league victory of the season to date and Saturday's loss in south Wales left them above of the League Two drop-zone on goal difference only.

Worthington, who has also had spells in charge at Blackpool and Norwich, added: "I have enjoyed a wonderful time at York City over the past 18 months.

"The fans have been fantastic throughout and I have appreciated their support. The experience would not have been the same without the friendship of all the staff at the club."

BBC Radio York's York City commentator Tim Steere

"No great surprise that he's gone or that he resigned. He had the full support of the board and they were never going to sack him.

"I think the majority of the fans will regard it as good news because they never looked like creating and scoring goals.

"This came as a surprise to the board so they don't have a shortlist drawn up at the moment, but I would think someone with Football League experience like Micky Adams might be a contender.

"It has been an absolute pleasure and honour to have been manager of York City and I very much wish the club every success for the future."

The Minstermen, who last week were given permission to build a new 8,000-seater stadium, next face Shrewsbury Town on Saturday.

Caretaker boss Torpey has been part of the club's coaching set-up since 2008,, external following a playing career which took him to various clubs including Bradford City, Swansea, Bristol City and Scunthorpe.

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