LEE Bullock was travelling back from Wales today after his trial at Cardiff City.

York City manager Chris Brass will now speak to Bluebirds boss Lennie Lawrence and see whether the First Division club are ready to make a bid for the 22-year-old midfielder's services.

Previous reports from Wales indicated that Cardiff could offer £75,000 for Bullock plus another £75,000 after appearances.

Brass has already said that would be an acceptable fee and if Lawrence is ready to offer that amount City's longest-serving player could be on his way back to Cardiff before the weekend.

City's player-boss said: "Lee is on his way back and we will be having a chat with him to see how it's gone. I shall also be speaking to Lennie Lawrence and hopefully find out whether they want to go ahead now or wait until the summer."

Bullock was not given international clearance to play in Cardiff Reserves' 2-0 home victory over Swindon and Lawrence may still want to see the Stockton-born midfielder play a competitive match in his natural role before committing himself to any transfer. Brass has used Bullock as a makeshift striker in City's last six matches.

If Bullock does leave for Cardiff, the move could release funds for Brass to bring in a new striker.

City's boss has made no secret that bolstering his forward line is his number one priority and he was at a reserve match watching a possible target yesterday.

Reserve midfielder Stephen Brackstone also staked his claim as a possible replacement for Bullock with City's goal in last night's 4-1 Pontin's Holiday League defeat at Boston United.

Leigh Wood completed his first 90 minutes since a shoulder operation and Jon Parkin played the full match as a striker.

But Brass has received a report on the match from head of youth development Paul Stancliffe and said: "It appears there were more negatives to come out of the game than positives."

City included eight players in the starting line-up with first-team experience with only Chris Porter and youth-team duo Gary Anderson and Kane Ashcroft still waiting for their first senior outing. Steve Downes, Sean Davies, Stuart Wise, Christian Fox and Aron Wilford also played.

Turkish youth international Lev Yalcin was not used, adding fuel to speculation that Brass could be ready to hand the teenage striker his first start of the season against Mansfield on Saturday.

Updated: 10:35 Thursday, February 12, 2004