TURF Moor favourite Chris Brass is relishing the new challenge of helping York City climb the Nationwide League after finally severing his links with Burnley, writes Pete Oliver.

Brass brought to an end a near ten-year stay with the Clarets when he completed a free transfer to York yesterday.

And the 25-year-old defender is ready to open a new chapter on his career after seeing his first-team chances at Burnley dry up over the past couple of seasons.

He said: "I am that stage where I need to be playing first-team football.

"I just felt it's going to be a challenge and I'm the type of person that rises to those challenges.

"It's given me a fresh appetite and I'm sure I will enjoy it.

"I'm disappointed I haven't been given an opportunity recently but you've got to take that into perspective and realise the success we've had.

"You can't argue with the manager sticking with the players who have done very well and I think I have still played a part with the impetus off the field and helping the lads.

"I think a lot of the players will miss me around the club, which is nice.

"They are happy for me and I'm looking forward to playing first-team football, which is the be-all and end-all."

Brass, who would have been out of contract in the summer, had also attracted interest from Second Division clubs Rotherham and Northampton Town.

But he believes he can make a big impression at York, who Brass fully expects to win their fight against relegation to the Nationwide Conference.

He added: "I knew they were interested in me and I've been looking out for their results, which helped my decision.

"There was other interest but I went across to speak to them and I was happy with what they were saying, where they're planning on going and what they're planning on doing and I felt I would be a major part of that.

"There was also the lure of first-team football which is a major factor and they are a financially sound club in terms of the Third Division who are going to have a real go next year.

"As it stands they are on an unbeaten six-match run and if they play that way until the end of the season -- as we showed at Burnley when we had that long unbeaten run two seasons ago before going on to get promotion last year -- they can take that into next season which would bode well."

Brass, a model professional, is to be given a fairly senior role within the City set-up under the management of Terry Dolan. He goes with the experience of having captained Burnley and looks back fondly on his time at the club which handed him his League debut back in the 1994/95 campaign.

Brass said: "In terms of football today I don't think people are so involved in a club or have the feelings I will always have for Burnley.

"When I was driving away from the ground it hadn't really sunk in that it was last time I would be doing that as a Burnley player.

"It is saddening to leave a club of the stature and history of Burnley. But it's also a plus-point that I've played a part in that history and actually been captain of Burnley Football Club, which is a tremendous honour.

"I am a Burnley fan and from that aspect, not many Burnley fans can say they've been Burnley captain."