YORK City boss Terry Dolan has confirmed midfielder Lee Bullock has signed a new two-year deal.

With one year left on his current contract, it means the 20-year-old - one of City's most saleable assets - is tied to the Minstermen until 2005.

Dolan, who revealed the youngster actually signed the contract extension before Christmas, said the new deal was deserved.

"It is a reward for his continued improvement," said Dolan.

Despite his tender years, Bullock has become one of City's most influential players this season.

He made his 100th appearance in a City shirt in the midweek 1-0 defeat at Plymouth Argyle and has weighed in with a useful seven goals this season.

Meanwhile, Dolan revealed wing-back Darren Edmondson, another influential player this season, is unlikely to be fit for Saturday's clash at Cheltenham Town.

Edmondson missed Tuesday's trip to Devon with a calf-strain and is rated doubtful for the weekend. However, with no midweek fixture for City, it is hoped the 30-year-old will be fit in time to face Darlington a week on Saturday.

In better news for the Minstermen, full-back Neville Stamp was today expected to join Richard Cooper on the comeback trail.

Stamp, who has been out of action for the last month with a hamstring strain, was due to return to training today.

As reported in the Evening Press, Cooper, who suffered a broken leg against Hull City five weeks ago, also started training this week.

New signing Stephen Brackstone, who has seen the start of his Bootham Crescent career blighted by a virus, was also expected to return to training today.

Luton Town's reported interest in City's star striker, Michael Proctor, appears to have cooled with Hatters' boss Joe Kinnear reportedly closing in on a loan deal for Wolves striker Adam Proudlock.

Wolves boss Dave Jones has admitted he wants to send Proudlock out on loan but insists no deal has yet been signed.

However, Jones has confirmed he is looking to bring a goalkeeper in at Molineux as cover for first-choice Michael Oakes before transfer deadline day on March 28.

That will be of interest to City and goalkeeper Russ Howarth, who recently played in a couple of trial matches with the First Division promotion chasers.

Howarth was on duty last night as a young and depleted City reserves lost narrowly to Lincoln City at Bootham Crescent in an Avon Insurance League Division One clash.

Injuries, suspensions and international call-ups meant City were forced to name three players, Lee Grant, Adam Arthur and Bryan Stewart, from the club's under-16s side, on the bench.

All five substitutes who appeared on the bench at Home Park were included in the team with defender Chris Smith the most senior player in the side at just 20-years of age.

The team also included trialist Danny Farthing, a midfielder from Pickering Town.

In contrast, Lincoln featured a number of players with first team experience, including the likes of Richard Logan, Ben Sedgemore and Dave Cameron.

Against the run of play, the Imps took the lead on 32 minutes when Daniel Bent headed home from a Sedgemore cross.

City's best chance of an equaliser came just minutes later when Marc Salvati saw his shot hit the post.

Grant and Stewart, who together with Arthur, have been offered scholarships by City for next season, made their debuts as second-half substitutes.

- The sale of City to motor sport boss John Batchelor is imminent but now probably unlikely to go through before the end of this week.

Batchelor had more talks with City of York Council this week about plans to build a new stadium to replace Bootham Crescent.

Updated: 12:24 Thursday, March 07, 2002