The ebullient ex-Port Vale chief is full of beans regarding his mission "up north" after landing the KitKat Crescent managerial reins on Monday.

Foyle, whose no 2 will be former youth coach Neil Redfearn, is raring to go after kicking his heels following his departure as assistant-boss at City's Blue Square Premier rivals Wrexham along with Brian Little in early October.

He was ushered in following the decision to part company with Colin Walker last Friday, with the 45-year-old finally landing the Minstermen post at the second time of asking.

Foyle, who managed Vale from February 2004 to September 2007, threw his hat into the ring 12 months ago after Billy McEwan left the club – and after being passed over then, he has fared better this time around.

The former Vale and Oxford striker – who plundered 199 goals in his 19-year playing career – told Yorkshire Sport: "I put in for the York job when I decided to leave Port Vale; there were just so many things going on there and it was probably the best decision I ever made (to leave).

"There's something about coming up north which appealed to me.

"I've only really been down south and in the Midlands in my career and I thought it'd be nice to work my way further north and make some different contacts and see some different players."

Foyle's charges are in need of a fresh injection of confidence in a bid to get their season back on an even keel, with City – in the lower half of the table – having gone seven games without a win prior to this weekend's trip to Salisbury.

Morale has sagged, according to Foyle, who is hoping the individual touch helps yield a positive reaction, where the emphasis will be on one-on-one work on the training ground.

He said: "I'm always on the training pitch and get myself involved.

"That's important, sometimes you've just got to show the players and get among them.

"Hopefully, I'll make them feel good. I want smiling faces on the training ground – you play better when you are smiling.

"One or two were probably down a bit after Sunday, but it's gone now. We've got to pick ourselves up and go and win some games.

"Do that and the confidence soon returns and I don't want them to hide.

"I'm always open and honest with the players, whether they like it or not.

"The response has been good and me and Neil (Redfearn) want to concentrate on a lot of individual work, whether it's with the back four, keepers or the strikers. That's important in their development.

"It's okay doing team work all the time, but sometimes you've got to take the young ones back in the afternoons.

"Especially with me being here, I'm in no hurry to go back and it's important for me to get to know them.