Steve Ibbitson has not ruled out staying on as Lewes manager.

Caretaker-boss Ibbitson’s ten-game spell in charge came to an end with a 1-1 draw at home to FA Trophy finalists York City.

The 58-year-old insisted when he took over he was just keeping the seat warm for someone else and he would revert to being youth team manager next season.

He remains adamant he is not the right man for the job but also admits he may be tempted if the club asked him to carry on.

Ibbitson would be a popular choice among fans after lifting the spirits of the club in the last five weeks of the season.

Despite being hamstrung by the worst budget in the league which has forced him to play a host of teenagers, he has restored some pride into the club by taking seven points from a possible 12 in their last four home games.

Lewes are expected to agree at a meeting tomorrow on a restructure of how the club is managed, after which they will plot the way forward for life in Blue Square south next season.

Appointing a permanent manager is a priority decision so that they can keep their best players and add to the squad before potential signings are snapped up by other clubs.

Asked whether he would consider staying if he was asked, Ibbitson said: “I have really enjoyed doing the job and it would be very easy for me to say yes I would like to do it because I would but I have other things on that could make it difficult for me. Also, as I have said previously, I am not convinced I am the right man to do it.

“I think they need somebody with better contacts that me who can get a good regular side here but I would certainly have to think long and hard about it because it is something I have enjoyed.

“The other thing I would like is a bit more financial stability at the club. One thing that concerns me if I am manager and I am negotiating contracts I would want to be reasonably sure if I am promising somebody something it is going to be delivered. Any manager will want to know what the financial situation is anyway and a lot of that has got to be resolved yet.”

Danny Cullip is the only player whose contract runs into next season. Others like Joe Keehan, who was named supporters’ and players’ player of the season after the game, and goalkeeper Rikki Banks, who took the manager’s award, are now out of contract.

Until a new manager is appointed, Ibbitson will continue speaking to such players to assemble a squad for next year.

He said: “Unfortunately things can’t just stand still and there are players who need to be talked to about contracts for next year, there are players who are not on contract we need to talk to possibly about signing contracts or certainly about being involved next year and there are people not at the club who we would like to get to the club.

“Whether we were going to do it or not we need to start taking action on some of these things so that the club is in a position to function in the early part of next season.

“The Conference south is a very good league. What the club has got to do is make sure we compete in that league and don’t go into freefall and go down two or three divisions at once.

“If we can consolidate next year and stay in that league, then we can start thinking about making a push over the next two or three years.

“The club has got to think over that three to five-year period. They weren’t ready to go into the Conference this time, everybody acknowledges that, but it would be lovely for the club to have an opportunity to do again sometime. I would love to go back to places like Barrow but on a bit more of a sounder footing.”

Yesterday’s game was very much end of season fare. It took until first-half stoppage time for either side to get a shot on target.

York finally broke the deadlock ten minutes from time when substitute Richard Brodie’s header was saved by Banks but Mark Greaves forced the ball home from close range.

Defeat would have been harsh on Lewes and top scorer Keehan ensured the season finished on a high note by heading home his ninth goal of the season three minutes from time after Sam Fisk nodded the ball goalwards following a free-kick by Luke Rooney.

Lewes: Banks; Timms, Barness, Cullip, Fisk; Storrie (sub Wheeler 46), Standing (sub Foreman 46), Keehan, Rooney, Wilkinson (sub Sutton 78); Rivers. Subs not used: Bell, Hall.

Booked: Wheeler (71, foul).

York City: Mimms; Purkiss, Greaves, Pejic, Robinson; Russell (sub Boyes 62), Rusk, Hogg, Brown; Torpey (sub Brodie 62), Sodje (sub C.Smith 74). Subs not used: A.Smith, Ingham.