Bullock to join Cardiff on loan

The Minstermen have agreed a loan fee with Cardiff for Bullock's services until the summer and a transfer fee has been agreed should the Welsh club decide to make the deal permanent.

It is believed to be an initial £75,000 with another £75,000 payable after certain clauses are met.

Bullock will travel to Cardiff after making what could be his farewell Bootham Crescent appearance against Scunthorpe tomorrow night with Lennie Lawrence keen to include him in Saturday's squad for the home match with First Division table-toppers Norwich City.

City boss Chris Brass said: "A loan fee has been agreed and a price agreed in principle if they want to make it permanent. It's a way of unlocking the door to give Lee his opportunity and, with our financial situation, it will clearly help us to hopefully go out and get the striker we want.

"He's been a tremendous servant and that's why we have given him this opportunity. This is how we have to work things now."

Brass has left the door open for Bullock to return to City in the summer but believes it is unlikely that Cardiff will not follow up their interest with a permanent deal and he added: "Tomorrow night looks like it might be Lee's last game for us and I am sure he will want to sign off with a bang as he has come through the ranks here and has a strong affinity with the club."

Meanwhile, goalkeeper Chris Porter will be given his first City start against Yeovil Town a week on Saturday.

Porter has sat on the bench for the majority of the Minstermen's games this season but will get his first chance since arriving at Bootham Crescent in the summer because first choice Mark Ovendale picked up his fifth booking of the season in the 4-1 defeat at Kidderminster on Saturday.

City boss Chris Brass said: "Mark will miss one game which is unfortunate but it gives Chris Porter his chance. Chris has been patient and done extremely well for the reserves.

"He's somebody we want to keep at the club and he wants to stay so it will be interesting to see what happens."

Brass believes a lack of communication was one of the main reasons behind Saturday's 4-1 defeat at Kidderminster and has warned the quieter members of his squad that they could be replaced by more vocal players in the summer.

He said: "The major, major problem at Kidderminster was communication. We are now into March and the need to talk and organise more is something we have stressed since the start of the season.

"How many times do you have to tell certain people? If they do not listen then you can quickly get forgotten in this game.

"I think the inexperienced players have shown a bit of immaturity and inconsistency and you have to take things on board otherwise it's a big, bad world out there and you do not keep your place.

"You have to learn quickly in this game and you can't take any passengers. It's a results-based industry.

"You will never get a better opportunity at this football club as a young individual but you have to take the chance when it arises."

City were missing captain Darren Edmondson, the injured Richard Hope and suspended pair Darren Dunning and Brass.

Edmondson and Dunning are likely to return for tomorrow night's home clash with Scunthorpe as Brass looks to bring more voices on to the Bootham Crescent pitch.

Jonjo Dickman returned to Sunderland today for treatment on his swollen knee and damaged ankle ligaments and Brass added: "He will be out for as minimum of two weeks and maybe longer which is a blow because he was settling in well and looked like somebody who could make an impact."

Lee Nogan was also replaced early in the second half as a precautionary measure after a muscle seizure but the assistant manager is expected to be fit for tomorrow.

Midfielder Mitch Ward also handed the captain's armband over to Richard Cooper in the second half after being substituted but Brass said: "That was just to rest his legs with three games in six days and to make sure he is OK to play against Scunthorpe."

Updated: 10:59 Monday, March 08, 2004