YORK City have held preliminary talks with men they hope can fire them to Nationwide Conference success - but player-boss Chris Brass admits it is early doors.

The City chief has pinpointed his front line as the priority for strengthening as he seeks the sharp-shots who can shoot his side back into the Football League at the first time of asking.

And the Evening Press believes the players who have held tentative talks with the Minstermen are currently with League clubs in the Second and Third Divisions.

"We've had talks with a couple of players but it's early doors with everybody and we'll have to see," Brass told the Evening Press.

"We've got a few areas we want to strengthen and first and foremost we want to get a striker sorted out and so that's the type of people we're speaking with at the moment."

It is also believed that Brass is tracking an experienced defensive lynchpin who will add organisational qualities to the backline.

Brass will be going to Portugal next month to take in some of the European Championship and hopes to have some kind of agreement in place by then.

He added: "Fingers crossed we will be able to tie someone up soon.

"Not a great deal will happen before July because that's when the contracts come up, but we are hoping to come to some kind of pre-contract agreement before then and I would like to think we would have a few irons in the fire before I go on holiday in June."

Meanwhile, there was still no movement on the Lee Bullock saga, with Cardiff City, with whom the City midfielder has been on loan, still stalling on a permanent deal.

Cardiff boss Lennie Lawrence is keep to sign Bullock, but chairman Sam Hamman is not willing to commit to the £75,000 asking price at this stage.

It is thought Hamman, who has spent heavily on getting the Bluebirds in to Division One, wants players off the books before he buys another player.

However, Cardiff are having difficulty off-loading players surplus to requirements because other clubs cannot match the wages they are receiving at Ninian Park.

Updated: 10:20 Thursday, May 20, 2004