YORK City could be set to take to the international stage and ply their trade in foreign fields - in countries as far flung as Lebanon and Syria.

After pre-season trips to Durham, Scotland and Staffordshire in the last three years, City are looking at the possibility of going global as part of their preparations for future campaigns.

Chairman John Batchelor has already stated his desire to market City in America.

But by taking the team abroad to play a series of friendly games Batchelor reckons he can further promote City and carve open a string of new commercial ventures.

"There must be deals that can be done on the back of taking teams abroad," he told the Evening Press.

"We are apparently very big in Finland.

"A Finnish journalist from Macclesfield interviewed me last week and said we are very popular over there.

"Apparently, people in Finland have picked up on the fact we are such a great club.

"He is going to send me a copy of the interview when it appears in the magazine, but it is a country I would like to take the team to."

Added the chairman: "Of course, I would also like to take the team to America.

"There are lots of tours we could do, and some in the Middle East.

"There are apparently definite possibilities over there.

"I know Lebanon and Syria, for example, are desperate for foreign teams to come and play and do reciprocal tours."

As part of his bid to promote City in the States, Batchelor changed the Minstermen's name from Football Club to Soccer Club in the summer.

In the next few weeks he also intends to travel to America where he hopes to drum up support for City and exploit a number of commercial and marketing opportunities.

"I hope to go over there the week after next, but a lot will depend on what happens with the Football League and everything else that is going on over here," said Batchelor, who has put forward proposals to restructure the League.

"It will be a two-week trip but I have got some very specific things that I have to do when I'm over there."

In the club's 80-year history, City have rarely crossed seas to play games.

Under former manager John Ward, City undertook pre-season tours to the Isle of Wight and Ireland.

In 1938 and as reward for the club's run to the quarter-finals of the FA Cup, the Dutch Football Association invited City to visit Holland and play a Dutch National Xl in Rotterdam. City lost the game 8-2.

Updated: 11:22 Saturday, September 21, 2002