LEE Bullock is backing York City to call on past experiences and pull clear of the Third Division drop zone.

The 22-year-old midfielder, currently on loan at Cardiff City, was a member of the City squads that flirted with relegation from the Football League in 2001 and 2002 and is hoping the club can take confidence from getting out of trouble on those occasions.

Bullock also realises that if Lennie Lawrence decides not to take up an option to make his loan move to Ninian Park permanent in the summer he could swap Premiership ambitions next season for a campaign in the Conference.

He said: "I hope I stay at Cardiff and I hope York stay up not because I may end up going back there but because all the players at the club are mates and I have also spent my whole career there and I don't like to see the club doing badly.

"We all know what the problem has been - the goals have dried up. It has been a poor run and a win is needed to get confidence back into the players but York have been in this situation before and that experience should help the club get out of trouble.

"Liam George has come back which should make a big difference and I am sure we will see York start pulling away from the relegation zone and staying up. I still keep in touch with all the players and the manager and am desperate for them to do well.

"I have been at York for years and it's a club that means so much to me."

While the Minstermen were entertaining Cheltenham Town this afternoon, Bullock was be preparing for Cardiff's First Division home clash against Burnley.

He has netted twice since joining the Bluebirds on loan last month but has only started one match and manager Lawrence has not yet given any indication about his future.

But Bullock has admitted that if he is discarded by Cardiff in the summer, he would have to reconsider his future at Bootham Crescent if the Minstermen get relegated.

He said: "The thought I could end up going from the First Division to the Conference has crossed my mind. If that happens it would be a disaster for me personally.

"If York did get relegated I would seriously have to consider my future at the club."

Bullock's perfect end to the season would be a double celebration of seeing the Minstermen staying up and earning a contract at Cardiff.

He added: "I love it at Cardiff. It's a great club that's going places and you would have to be daft not to want to be a part of it.

"This opportunity is massive for me. Not many Third Division players get a chance to play at First Division clubs. There's Dave Kitson, who went from Cambridge to Reading, and Jon Stead, who managed to move to the Premier League from Huddersfield, but other examples are few and far between so when the chance comes along you have to take it.

"I will be pretty nervous when the manager (Lennie Lawrence) calls me into the office at the end of the season. Hopefully, I will come out smiling."

Updated: 10:26 Saturday, April 17, 2004