York City secured their first win under new manager, Stuart Maynard on Saturday. Off the back of this, the Minstermen are looking to secure the services of Peterborough United’s Chris Conn-Clarke.
The 23-year-old hasn’t had the desired impact at the Weston Homes Stadium after moving last summer. York City are reportedly willing to pay a loan fee, substantial wages and bonuses to see off competition for Conn-Clarke.
Who is Chris Conn-Clarke?
The 23-year-old started his youth career in his native Northern Ireland with Linfield and Glentoran. Conn-Clarke moved to England to join Burnley on a scholarship in 2018.
A move to Fleetwood Town followed in 2021 before the Irishman had loan spells with Altrincham and Waterford. After only five appearances for the Cod Army, Conn-Clarke joined Alty on a permanent deal in 2023 for a club-record fee.
The attacking midfielder had a breakout season with the Robins. He was named National League player of the season and helped his side reach the play-off semi finals.
His impressive season with Altrincham earned him a move to Peterborough at the start of the 2024-25 season. Despite 30 appearances for the Posh, the Irishman didn’t have the desired impact in Cambridgeshire.
After a disappointing season, the 23-year-old has been linked with a move back to the National League. York City are reportedly in the driving seat to win the race for Conn-Clarke’s signature.
What could Chris Conn-Clarke bring to York City?
Conn-Clarke showcased his ability and attributes during the 2023-24 National League season. His performances for Altrincham won him the NL player of the season award and a place in the team of the season.
He was a consistent goal threat for the Manchester side from his attacking midfield position. The 23-year-old scored 23 goals throughout the season at an average of a goal every 0.5 games.
He consistently tested opposition goalkeepers during the 2023-24 season as well. On average Conn-Clarke had 3.8 shots per game with 1.5 on target per game.
His dribbling and ball control would be a significant benefit to York City’s side. For Altrincham, the Irishman won an average of seven duels and completed 4.5 successful dribbles per game.
This skill set of the attacking midfielder will provide significant chance creation for York. During his last spell in the fifth tier, Conn-Clarke totalled 12 assists at an average of 0.26 per game.
Is Chris Conn-Clarke a good signing for York City?
When looking at his 2023-24 campaign and statistics from it, it is hard to argue against any club wanting to sign Conn-Clarke. The 23-year-old has the ability to win games on his own and create numerous chances for teammates.
Adding the former Altrincham midfielder to York’s squad could be a devastating blow to National League defences. When considering the firepower the Minstermen have already in Ollie Pearce and Josh Stones, adding Conn-Clarke to this could be a significant improvement.
The only concern for York will be whether they have the availability for Conn-Clarke to flourish. When leaving Altrincham, Phil Parkinson said the following about his midfielder:
“All Chris has needed is a manager who was willing to build a team around him. Once he had the structure and the belief was back, his ability was there for everyone to see”
The big question will be whether Maynard decides to build a team around Conn-Clarke. With the likes of Ollie Banks and Alex Newby already embedded in the squad, it would be a change in tactic to make Conn-Clarke the main man.
This may have been why he struggled to make his impact at Peterborough. Moving to League One may have meant Conn-Clarke was not the main man and did not have the impact desired.
Should York City complete a deal for the midfielder there will be some headaches for Maynard in order to keep his squad happy. Despite this, a player of Chris Conn-Clarke’s quality would be a good signing for any National League side given the impact he had during the 2023-24 campaign.