YORK City may have to wait a little longer before they pocket the final £5,000 instalment of Lee Bullock's transfer to Cardiff.

Bullock made a flourishing start to his Ninian Park career, scoring regularly - first during his loan spell from the Minstermen and then after agreeing a two-year permanent deal in the summer.

But the former Bootham Crescent midfielder is currently finding life tougher in the Welsh capital.

He has not started a game since the Bluebirds' November defeat at QPR because of injuries and the form of Republic of Ireland midfielder Graham Kavanagh and Japan's 2002 World Cup star Junichi Inamoto.

He is currently stuck on 20 first-team appearances for Lennie Lawrence's men, which is five short of the final £5,000 payment required to complete his £100,000 switch to Cardiff.

Bullock said: "The reality of my own position is simple. I've players who are current internationals in front of me and I have to accept that.

"It's going to be tough to break through with these guys ahead of me and the team playing so well."

Cardiff have lost just one of their last eight league games with Lawrence named the Championship's Manager of the Month for January as his side pulled away from the relegation zone.

City's change in manager last week somewhat overshadowed the completion of the club's historic deal to become majority shareholders of their 73-year-old home again.

However, after a phone call to our sports desk from a City fan querying what would now happen to KitKat Crescent should the club go bust under the Supporters' Trust, it is probably worth clarifying who would own the ground in such a regrettable situation.

The simple answer is the Football Foundation, who have first charge on the ground having given the club a £2million loan and the deal follows the same principles as the relationship between a mortgage lender and a house owner.

Current Bootham Crescent Holdings directors Jason McGill, Terry Doyle and Mike Shannon, therefore, unlike their predecessors, would not profit from the club's misfortune which should allay any unfounded fears of history repeating itself.

NEW City boss Billy McEwan will be York Minstermen's guest at the Social Club next Thursday just two weeks into his managerial reign at KitKat Crescent.

McEwan will be available to answer supporters' questions from 7pm with the bar opening half-an-hour earlier and all City fans are welcome.

Michael Stockdale and Tom Oxley both bagged braces as City supporters' team Yorkie Bars beat Darlington 4-2.

Updated: 11:07 Saturday, February 19, 2005