CARDIFF have finally signalled their intention to sign Lee Bullock and a move will be finalised as soon as the 23-year-old midfielder returns from holiday.

The Bluebirds stalled on exercising their first option to sign Bullock after a successful loan period in which he scored three times in four starts.

But it is believed now that owner Sam Hammam has sanctioned the move, which will be completed on Bullock's return from Florida a week on Saturday.

The First Division Welsh club are also expected to honour the fee fixed before Bullock travelled to Cardiff on loan, which is believed to be £75,000 plus a further £75,000 after appearances.

City boss Chris Brass said: "A deal has been agreed in principle with Cardiff and the move is certainly on. It's a case of Lee agreeing personal terms now and I don't see any reason why it won't go through as soon as he gets off the plane from his holiday.

"It's a decent deal for us. We have had to iron out one or two things and other people expressed an interest but we also wanted to make sure the deal was right for York City and Lee and Cardiff have come up with the fee we agreed."

Meanwhile, midfielder Kevin Donovan is hoping to help steer the Minstermen out of the Conference after being unable to play a part in last season's unsuccessful battle against relegation.

Serious complications following the birth of his second son meant that Donovan was not available for first-team duty after signing on a non-contract basis in March.

The former West Brom and Grimsby midfielder is still to make his City debut after spending the last two months driving back and forth from hospital to visit his new-born baby.

But Donovan junior is now at home after an anxious eight weeks and his father is hoping that he can now focus on football again.

The 32-year-old right-winger said: "I had hoped to play a few games last season but, down to problems with our new-born son, myself and my wife had to divide all our time between the hospital and at home because I have another little boy. Our new-born was in hospital for eight weeks and, while I don't want to go into details, we've been able to bring him home and he's doing OK now.

"This type of thing puts everything into perspective. At the end of the day, everybody's got family and they do have to come first.

"Our baby only came out of hospital last week and I had not picked up a phone before then apart from speaking to Lee Nogan three weeks ago. I've not spoken to my agent so I don't know if any other clubs were even interested.

"When York made me an offer I felt it was right to sign. I just want to play football. It's as simple as that and I also don't want to be moving home again.

"It's nice and handy for us and was a club I enjoyed being at before things happened last season."

Donovan joined the Minstermen when the club were still a Football League outfit last season but insists that relegation to the Conference was never going to influence any decision over his Bootham Crescent future.

He is also hoping that his experience, allied with that of fellow new signing Steve Davis, can help City's youngsters fulfil their potential next season.

He said: "There's not that big a difference between the Football League and the Conference now. There are lots of good players and it's still a tough league.

"I am looking forward to getting back to playing and training and hopefully helping the club get back where they deserve to be. I enjoyed training here last season and the training ground is excellent.

"I think the manager and Lee both need a bit of luck which they did not have much of last year. A lot depends on the signings they make but there's already some good young players at the club.

"I've played against Steve Davis in the past and I think you need people like him with a lot of experience. I'm sure he will be a good acquisition."

Updated: 10:20 Friday, June 04, 2004