Mills' signings for 2012–13 proved to be less influential than his signings the previous summer, a number of new players being left out of the team with little playing time. York were in midtable for most of the first half of the season, and his signings in the winter transfer window had little impact on the team. Having been 14th in the table on 1 January 2013, York went on a run of 11 matches without a win, and this left the team four points above the relegation zone in 18th place. Mills was dismissed by York on 2 March 2013, an hour after the last of these matches, a 2–0 defeat at home to Bradford City.