WHEN all the high summer talk should have exclusively surrounded York City's eagerly-anticipated return to the Football League after a decade-long absence, it has been about one man instead.

The exit of one man, more to the point.

Stuart Maynard's one and only season with the Minstermen wasn't just successful, but epic.

He didn't just orchestrate a promotion and National League title - on a day for the ages in Rochdale - but won 33 of his 45 matches in charge, boasting a staggering win ratio of 73.3 per cent. Small wonder he was named as the division's manager of the season in 2025-26.

Former York City manager Stuart Maynard. Photo: Tony Johnson.

placeholder image — Former York City manager Stuart Maynard. Photo: Tony Johnson.

But Yorkshire's occasional propensity for major managerial curveballs has surfaced once again. And it is to be hoped, for York's sake, that events don't follow two similarly bombshell departures at White Rose clubs over the previous couple of years which also stunned onlookers.

Hull City's decision to axe Liam Rosenior at the end of the 2023-24 campaign and Sheffield United's decision to dispense with the services of Chris Wilder just over 12 months later proved fateful ones for the wrong reasons.

Their replacements, Tim Walter and Ruben Selles did not last long and both clubs were set back.

Scott Lindsey was swiftly announced as Maynard's replacement, less than 24 hours after his axing. He boasts a promotion on his CV from the fourth tier with Crawley Town, but his second spell in West Sussex proved rather more undistinguished.

York City's Josh Stones with the trophy after his team won the Enterprise National League after the Enterprise National League match at the Crown Oil Arena, Rochdale. Photo credit: Cody Froggatt/PA Wire.

Lindsey was sacked in March after of a 10-game winless run, with the Red Devils bang in relegation strife. His win rate stood at 22 per cent.

It is safe to say that Lindsey has been brought in at York on the back of his feats in his first spell at the Broadfield Stadium - which commanded a fair amount of respect - not his second.

New managers need early wins and how Lindsey, whose appointment has been viewed as underwhelming among fair sections of York's support, could do with a few to avoid getting off on the wrong foot.

The club definitely have a couple of juicy league appointments in August.

Should Lindsey preside over a couple of positive results against a side tipped to be in the promotion shake-up in Steve Evans' Bristol Rovers and a Yorkshire rival in Rotherham United - the closest that York will get to a derby in 26-27 - then the Minstermen will truly start to move on from Maynard.

History at least suggests that York can look forward to a positive league return.

No club promoted from the National League has been relegated from the Football League in their first season since automatic promotion was introduced in 1986-87, with the tally currently standing at 59 clubs.

A fair number don't just survive, but continue their momentum and a healthy amount have gone onto achieve back-to-back promotions.

All of the above points to the step-up not being overly daunting. And if York's much-vaunted strike-force of Josh Stones and Ollie Pearce, who dined out at fifth-tier level last season, find League Two to their liking, then the picture should be an encouraging one.

The pair hit a half-century of league goals, 51 in total, between them last season.

Stones, who enjoyed their promotion more than anyone, signed a new long-term contract earlier in the close season. He has certainly not been short of admirers during his time at City.

York plundered a colossal 114 league goals last term. Their defensive stats - 41 conceded in 46 matches - were also outstanding, but this is where the landscape is slightly more concerning ahead of the big kick-off.

Harrison Male, York's number one for the previous two seasons and winner of successive Golden Glove accolades in 25-26 and 24-25, was freed at the end of last season. He was the only player to start every match in the Minstermen's title-winning season.

Fulham loanee Alfie McNally is his likely replacement and is highly regarded at his parent club. Equally, this represents a first loan for the 21-year-old, although you have to start somewhere.

York must also make do without arguably the National League's best defender last season, Malachi Fagan-Walcott, whose numbers sufficiently impressed the data-driven overlords at Hearts.

The Minstermen received a big six-figure fee for his services. He will still be an undeniable loss, although the permanent arrival of young centre-half Zak Johnson, who caught the eye alongside him last season on loan from Sunderland, will hopefully assuage matters.

Charlie McArthur, who has represented Scotland at under-21 level, is another healthy looking option at the back and looks to have decent pedigree in fairness.

York's signing count stands at nine and while each and everyone will be driven to to make their mark, several others also have unfinished business at league level, including the likes of ex-Sheffield Wednesday midfielder Alex Hunt, who has pulled the strings in his time with City.