BILL MARSHALL and Leon Gibson-Booth have both left York City.

The academy duo who were initially introduced into first-team training at the back end of last season have both departed York upon the conclusion of their contracts, with City boss Adam Hinshelwood confirming the news in his pre-match press conference for Maidenhead United.

Marshall and Gibson-Booth both made appearances in pre-season for the Minstermen, before going on to gain first-team experience at Ossett United and then Morpeth Town.

Gibson-Booth, a left-back by trade, has been announced to have joined Morpeth, having previously played on loan with the Northern Premier League side earlier in the season.

Meanwhile, Marshall was spotted on trial with National League North side Scarborough Athletic during their 10-1 win over TIBS on Tuesday evening, scoring a free-kick for the Seadogs.

Hinshelwood confirmed the news and explained the decision-making process in opting to not renew the duo’s deals with York.

“Them two lads’ contracts were up and I feel that they’ve improved loads, they’ve really benefitted from playing loads and getting minutes,” Hinshelwood explained.

“Two good young lads, and I’ve got nothing but admiration for their characters.

“We just felt that they were a bit too far from getting minutes with us, sometimes you’ve got to be honest with these players.

“It’s important that they go out and carve their own careers, they can go and do that now.

“They are definitely two players that we would be silly not to keep an eye on and monitor, but we’ve got a duty of care to be honest for these players as well.

“They were probably a bit too far down the line from getting to our starting line-up.

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“Two great lads, and I wish them nothing but success in their careers and two lads that we will definitely monitor going forward.”

York have also played a part in ensuring that both Marshall and Gibson-Booth find new clubs, with Tony McMahon aiding the latter in making his Morpeth move a permanent stay, having impressing whilst on loan.

City also helped Marshall secure a trial with Jonathan Greening’s Scarborough, with Hinshelwood also open to the idea of allowing the youngster to continue training with York, should no move to the Seadogs materialise.

It’s all a part of York’s duty of care, with Hinshelwood eager to help the two youngster’s continue their development, even if it is away from the football club.

“It’s all of us really, we want to be a club where if you sign for York City at a young age, whether if that is in the youth team or as a pro, that we’ve got a duty of care when they do leave.

York City have a duty of care and have helped sort out moves elsewhere for Leon Gibson-Booth and Bill Marshall. (Image: Tom Poole) “We had the conversation with the lads, I spent about two months with them at the end of last season and we did all that we could to help them with clubs.

“It’s the same with Billy and Leon, I think that Tony sorted out Leon getting a deal where he was and where he was really liked and playing regular football, which was important.

“We arranged for Billy to go in at Scarborough on trial, and if it doesn’t work out then the door is open for him to come and train, as we will have somewhere to keep him ticking over as we have a duty of care to our players.

“I want nothing more than for Billy and Leon to go and play regular football, and potentially look at signing them in a year’s time when they’re a bit closer to getting into our first-team.

“It’s definitely not a case of us just wiping our hands, showing them the door and that’s it, the door is shut.

“We want to make sure that they are getting regular football and are in a good environment as well.”

Hinshelwood also admitted that he believes the standard of youth player must improve if they are to progress into the first-team, with the City boss eyeing players that would be potentially suit to a League Two or high end National League side.

He felt that Marshall and Gibson-Booth suffered from York’s progression in the side since they initially emerged into the first-team set-up, with the standard of player admittedly being raised.

Hinshelwood continued: “It is [difficult], we really want to push our youth players and give them a pathway, but at the same time, it can’t be football for all.

“They have probably come a little bit unstuck because of how far the team has evolved and developed in such a short space of time, we’re now looking for players that are more ready for League Two, top end of the National League.

“That’s changed even in the last six months since we came in, that’s what we want to keep on pushing towards.

“Like I say, it’s two great lads and it wouldn’t surprise me if next season they were playing week in, week out at National League North level.

“We’ve got to keep an eye on it and we want to keep on pushing to be at the top end of the National League now, and pushing these through.

“The steps have moved even further and players have got to come with that, those two players probably can, but it’s a bit more of a longer process.”