THE exciting times at York City continue to gather pace following the announcement of a 'substantial three-year' sponsorship package with York builders Persimmon Homes.

New chairman John Batchelor, who only took over the reins from Douglas Craig on Friday, has moved quickly to reveal the Fulford-based national company as the sponsors of both the football club and his British Touring Car Championship racing team - Team B&Q York City Racing.

A deal was finally brokered at 5pm last night, with the charismatic Batchelor revealing the deal at the launch of the BTCC season at Brands Hatch today.

The money - an undisclosed amount - will be split between the two teams, with the Minstermen likely to benefit from the larger share.

However, boss Terry Dolan is unlikely to see any of the money before the summer as Batchelor looks first to put the club on stable footings.

Speaking to the Evening Press, Batchelor confirmed: "It is a substantial three-year deal with Persimmon Homes.

"I approached them. They are a large York-based company and they can see the value of being connected to York City.

"Hopefully other large York-based firms will also see the benefits now of teaming up with York City."

Fans were hoping any money coming into the club would be invested on the playing side, but Batchelor is not set to 'splash the cash' yet, with the club's overdraft - currently just under £100,000 - his prime concern.

"Where the money goes (between the racing and football teams) will depend on where there is the greatest need, but I suppose that will be the football club to offer it stability," he said.

"It is likely it will go to clearing the overdraft at the club - we made a commitment to clear this when I took over - but I will have to sit down and have a chat with Terry (Dolan) over the summer.

"We won't be rushing out and throwing it to the wall, we've worked too hard to get this deal to go and do that."

Batchelor refused to divulge the finer details of the deal he struck with Persimmon Homes, but when asked over the possible involvement of the building company in the eventual sale of Bootham Crescent, he replied: "They may do."

The Evening Press will remain as York City's main sponsors, with the Persimmon coverage largely coming on the racing team. But Batchelor is hoping to reveal a way of promoting them at the club.

"The majority of the exposure will come on the car, but we are hopeful of making an announcement soon on how we can publicise it with the football club," he said. "We just need to speak to the Football League to check with the legalities of it."

In the meantime, Batchelor is aiming to bring his racing team cars up to Bootham Crescent after the first BTCC race of the season - at the start of next month - to promote the deal.

Updated: 11:19 Tuesday, March 19, 2002