Uncertainty off the pitch is leading to problems on it for York City's players and manager.

And boss Terry Dolan, who took Bradford to the play-offs in 1987, is feeling the pinch at the club which may be facing closure.

The fillip of an FA Cup run which sees Fulham's Premiership millionaires come to Bootham Crescent in the Fourth Round, cannot hide the off-field problems that are dogging the club.

Potential bidders are coming forward to take over the Minstermen but that still means talking tactics is playing second fiddle to talking club politics for Dolan.

"The players are only human," said the popular Bradford-born boss.

"It is their careers that are on the line, and it is hard when they come to you with concerns over their futures and you can't tell them anything concrete.

"They read things, they hear things and they see things, and it is difficult sometimes to give them reassurances when you know very little yourself.

"It is a strange thing to have to deal with. I would rather concentrate on talking and thinking about our matches, but it is not proving easy to do that at the moment."

City centre marches, pitch invasions, threats of closure and an uncertain future seem to be part of the management game at York nowadays, but Dolan is taking all in his stride.

He as already experienced similar problems elsewhere. There were take-over talks at Hull, and he lost his job in the final shakedown that resulted - but is hopeful that history won't be repeated here.

"I went through a lot at Hull," said Dolan who has also managed Rochdale in his career.

"And things are happening again here, but I relish the challenge and look forward to continuing in the job.

"I would dearly love to stay with York under new management.

"But that will not be my decision."

He looks back fondly on his days at Bradford and says his time with the Bantams was the only time in his management career where there was money to spend.

"I took Rochdale to the fifth round of the FA Cup," he said proudly.

"But the only other real success came at Bradford where there was money to spend.

"It is no coincidence that the play-offs were reached with the club where there was some cash around.

"There is not a lot of money in the lower reaches of football now with all the changes to the transfer market which means a reliance on younger players.

"Although that gives them much needed first-team experience, it can affect results in the short-term.

"That has happened here at York, but I am confident things will pick up later in the season."

But with chairman Douglas Craig threatening to shut the club if supporters cause trouble, and the management merry go-round ready to toss away club servants at the first opportunity, maybe Dolan won't be around to see the 'later in the season'.