JOHN Batchelor hopes to be installed as chairman by the time York City take on Darlington at Bootham Crescent on Saturday.

Would-be owner Batchelor told the Evening Press he believes the deal is all but done and dusted.

He said: "I am hoping to call a press conference very soon and news should break within the next 48 hours.

"I would hope to be watching the game on Saturday as chairman."

The motorsport boss was in York today putting more finishing touches to the deal.

It is believed that it is just a matter of completing the paperwork before the takeover can be officially announced.

Batchelor, who will be at Silverstone on Thursday for testing in his role as owner-driver of the B&Q Honda Integra Racing Team is known to want to base his motorsport operation to York.

If the deal to buy the Minstermen goes through then Batchelor is believed to want to race under the banner York City Racing.

Batchelor's plans include the building of a new stadium within the next couple of years and City skipper Chris Brass has reiterated his belief that the Minstermen are on the brink of exciting times.

But with the take-over of the club imminent, the midfielder fears any repeat of Saturday's sorry showing at Cheltenham Town could mean some of the current squad missing out.

Speaking in the aftermath of the 4-0 defeat at Whaddon Road, Brass said: "I've said we really want a go next season but if we put in performances like that it isn't going to happen.

"We don't want to be mid-table we want to be pushing next year.

"It looks like there is going to be a take-over and there are going to exciting times ahead.

"If we don't put in the performances then the guy who is coming in won't accept that and everybody is going to be looking over their shoulders.

"We have got make sure between now and the end of the season that we establish ourselves and we figure in the future of the club."

Brass admitted there could be no excuses for Saturday's display.

"In the last few weeks we have been rebuilding and every fixture we have been able to take a lot of pluses from them, even when we got beat at Luton and Plymouth," he said.

"But in the second-half, I don't know why, we just seemed second best. I know they are doing very well but we just didn't match them."

Updated: 16:30 Tuesday, March 12, 2002