PAT Lyons admits he's eager to earn a new deal at Worcester City - and the chance of another crack at playing in the northern football scene.

The Derby-based midfielder is keen to extend his stay at St George's Lane and be involved in next season's anticipated move to the Conference North following this summer's revamp of the pyramid system.

As a Unibond Premier championship winner with Burton Albion two seasons ago, Lyons still has vivid memories of playing at the likes of Barrow, Blyth Spartans and Whitby.

But if City have title aspirations in the new league set up it won't be easy, warns Lyons, even if the football is not as good as that seen in the Dr Martens League.

"I don't think it would be easy. They've got a different mentality and it is not pretty football," said Lyons.

"The teams go a lot on work-rate, power and pace without the quality of our league but if you can see them off in the early stages that's half the battle."

"In the Dr Martens Leagues I think teams try to play a bit more than northern non-league teams. That's because in general the northern teams don't get the pick of the players because there are a lot of Football League clubs up there that get the best players.

"But for example down at the likes of Weymouth and Dorchester there are not so many league clubs so there's probably better quality players available.

"At Burton when we played in the Unibond we knew that it would be easier than the Dr Martens and it was because we won by 20 points whereas in the Dr Martens we finished second twice.

"But the pitches are not the best or the grounds. The top six or eight clubs in the north were decent but after that not that good.

"But with the changes next season the standard might improve a bit with the likes of Nuneaton and Stafford but I still don't think it will be as strong as the Dr Martens."

Lyons insists it will be a challenge to look forward to, even if it is played out in the footballing wilderness.

"You've got places like Barrow that are miles away though they've got great support because there's no other clubs near and it's in the back of beyond.

"I was only in the north for one season but places like Blyth Spartans were shocking. But then other places like Worksop were alright. Either it should be something to look forward to."