Wilcox in hunt for players after latest cup exit

The Minstermen chief saw his side bow out of the FA Cup in a 3-1 first-round replay loss at AFC Wimbledon on Tuesday, with a new striker top of his priorities ahead of the emergency loan deadline next Thursday.

Wes Fletcher gave the visitors a spectacular early lead, but the forward, recently back from injury, faded as the game progressed, with several of City’s returning players also not yet fully up to speed after spells out.

With time of the essence and York lying fourth-from-bottom in League Two with just two wins in 17 matches – and visiting rock-bottom Hartlepool United this weekend – Wilcox is hoping to act sooner rater than later.

Wilcox, mindful that Sheffield United’s continued presence in the FA Cup could mean that any loan return of Diego de Girolamo is delayed for the time being, said: “There’s not enough players up to speed and the squad is small and I am going to have a conversation with the chairman.

“I know money is very, very tight, but we cannot keep ticking along with the same personnel.

“We need to add some quality to the group if we possibly can.

“People have seen the quality I have brought in with Alex (Cisak) in goal and (Stephane) Zubar, who defended really well again.

“We need a few more like that.”

In contrast to Wilcox, Doncaster Rovers boss Paul Dickov was left to hail a professional performance as his side avoided a potential banana-skin in a 4-1 breeze at non-league minnows Weston-super-Mare.

The original fixture at Woodspring Stadium was controversially called off 20 minutes ahead of kick-off, much to the fury of the visiting Rovers supporters, who received some welcome payback last night.

The victory secured a second-round meeting with Dickov’s former club Oldham Athletic on December 6 and after having some famous cup nights at Boundary Park, he is now hoping for another, at his old side’s expense.

Dickov said: “Funnily enough, my last game as manager at Boundary Park was an FA Cup tie against Liverpool and I am looking forward to going back there now.

“Especially in the first half, I thought the players were outstanding.

“The one thing we were going to have to do was match their desire and work-rate, especially in the first 20 minutes.”