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. In the third round of the competition Mills' York played Premier League team Bolton Wanderers, who won 2–0 with late goals from Kevin Davies and Johan Elmander. York made a push toward the play-off places, and by mid March 2011 were sixth in the Conference Premier, just one place outside the play-offs. York finished 2010–11 in eighth place in the Conference Premier, "The Press" claiming Mills "restored pride and belief into the club" with his "unbounded optimism and positivity".