FORMER Leeds chairman Bill Fotherby re-emerged last night to claim he is going to sign David Batty for Harrogate Town.

Larger-than-life Fotherby became notorious in Leeds for announcing big 'signings' at Elland Road, usually just as season tickets went on sale.

His biggest 'coup' was to announce that Diego Maradona was about to sign for Leeds at the height of the Argentine superstar's powers. Sadly, the deal fell through but not before it had raised Leeds' profile once more.

Now Fotherby insists former England midfielder Batty is going to play for Harrogate Town, linking up with Blackburn team-mate Mark Atkins, the former York City player, who has just signed on the dotted line for the Unibond League side.

Fotherby admitted: "I don't know how long it will take but we will be here waiting for him.

"He is still at Premier League level at the moment so it might be 12 months or even two years.

"But David has told one of our directors and his agent that he wants to finish his career at Harrogate Town."

However, Town have signed former City striker Glenn Naylor, who retired from the full-time game with darlington at the end of last season.

Updated: 09:07 Thursday, July 03, 2003