Football
York City Eye Veteran Striker Billy Sharp in Bold League Return Plan
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Hull City v Doncaster Rovers - Emirates FA Cup Third Round by George Wood | Getty Images
Newly-promoted York City are weighing up a one-year deal for free agent Billy Sharp, SportsBoom can exclusively reveal.
Doncaster Rovers announced earlier this month that the veteran striker would be leaving the club at the end of the season.
York got promoted from the National League in the most dramatic fashion in a final-day shootout with rivals Rochdale, who between them amassed 214 points during the campaign.
There was a Rochdale pitch invasion when Emmanuel Dieseruwe headed home in the fifth minute of stoppage time before Josh Stones got a decisive leveller to send York up in the 103rd minute of time.
Now the dust has settled, York bosses are looking towards their Football League return after a decade away.
It is understood they will keep the core group who won the title with a whopping 106 points together, but would like to add some Football League experience to the squad.
Sharp, who played with York’s Head of Development Clayton Donaldson at the Blades, is understood to have been heavily discussed among club bosses.
And that is where Sharp, a Yorkshire legend who has played for Sheffield United (three times), Rovers (three times), Hull City and Leeds United, fits in.
In addition, it is believed Chris Wilder is keen to bring Sharp back to Sheffield United in a coaching or ambassadorial capacity once the veteran striker decides to hang up his boots.
More To Give
The 40-year-old has scored 296 professional goals during a career which spans over two decades.
And he wants to carry on a distinguished career which boasts six promotions, including helping Doncaster get promoted to League One last term.
Speaking about his future after it was announced he would be leaving the Keepmoat, Sharp said: “I can play on another year but I'm not quite sure what I'm going to do.”
“I'm open to opportunities whether that's at another club playing or what. I'm gonna see.”
“I've only ever been a free agent once and I ended up going to LA Galaxy.”
“I'm quite looking forward to sitting on my sofa again having a shandy and a few nuts and my missus saying 'you better sign for someone’. I'm going to see what opportunities I can get and it's exciting.”
“I love football and I love scoring goals. I'm going to leave it wide open.”
Shane is a seasoned sports journalist and one of the most recognisable voices in the snooker pressroom. From Ronnie O’Sullivan to Zhao Xintong, he has sat down with the sport’s biggest names and broken hundreds of front-page national stories.
Alongside his work for SportsBoom, Shane regularly freelances for national outlets including the Daily Mirror, Daily Express, and Daily Star.
While cricket is Shane’s true passion, particularly Test cricket, he keeps it largely separate from his professional work. But don’t expect him to be sold on The Hundred as the future of the game.