York's new manager Nigel Worthington has told the squad he has inherited they have until the end of the season to play for their futures.
The 51-year-old former Norwich and Northern Ireland boss was installed on Monday morning as successor to Gary Mills, who was sacked following Saturday's 2-0 home defeat to Bradford.
Mills steered the Minstermen to a promotion and FA Trophy double last May, but they have now gone 11 league games without a win and lie 18th in League Two, just four points above the relegation zone.
Worthington wasted no time in reminding several players they could soon be out of work.
"There's a lot of players out of contract in the summer and to get a job in football now is not easy," Worthington said.
"So for this club to stay in the Football League may be, could be, a wonderful thing for some of the players, who are out of contract and looking for work next summer.
"For all the good football we play, we need to play with more energy, we need to play closer to the opposition's goal and probably play at a higher tempo and that's possible, they're capable of that.
"We need to get points, we need 11 more points as soon as possible.
"They're good enough to be in League Two, but saying it and doing it are two different things.
"So we've got to go and deliver on the pitch over the course of 90 minutes, game in, game out, to achieve what the football club wants and deserves. First of all that's to preserve League Two status and then we can start to look and plan ahead."
