 He was not registered as a player at York, although chairman Jason McGill would refuse Mills a playing contract on multiple occasions.After his appointment, Mills said he believed he had left Tamworth for a club with greater potential and that his aim was to return York to the Football League.Mills' first match in charge was a 1–1 draw at home to Bath City on 16 October 2010, and with results improving he was named the Conference Premier Manager of the Month for November 2010 after York recorded four wins and three draws, including a 3–0 home win over Rotherham United in the first round of the FA Cup.