THE sale of York City Football Club could be completed by the end of next week, according to leading contender John Batchelor.

The motor-racing tycoon said his hopes of concluding the purchase for the Third Division outfit by end of this week have been hit by red tape.

Batchelor, who had initially hoped to seal the deal by this Friday, March 1, said: "We are still working towards that date. But we are now getting down to the legal nitty-gritty and so there might be a bit of slippage.

"There is absolutely reams and reams of legal paperwork to go through and it is just a matter of processing that paperwork.

"However, I am confident the end of the first week in March could be when it is going to happen."

Any deal for the club must be concluded by the end of March or chairman Douglas Craig has vowed to close the club down at the end of this season.

Provisional notice of City's intention to withdraw its membership of the Football League has already been given.

Batchelor, who has been given preferential bidder status by the York City Supporters' Trust and is working closely with the fans' body, said he was "very confident" the deal would still go through even though discussions about a site for a new ground are on-going.

As reported last week, Batchelor, owner-driver of the Honda Integra Racing Team, has met with City of York Council chiefs to discuss plans for a new 15,000 stadium.

Batchelor's bid would involve City continuing to play at Bootham Crescent for the next two to three years while a new ground is built.

He said: "Negotiations with the council are on-going. I would hope very much they continue to exhibit the same positive attitude throughout."

More talks between the Batchelor, the Trust and the council are planned for next week.

The Trust have admitted a new stadium "is an absolutely key requirement for the future viability of the club".

The board of the Trust held their first official board meeting last night and reiterated the necessity for a new ground.

Graham Ibbetson, chair of the Trust, said: "Central to the new strategy for the future viability of the club is a new stadium. This will provide a major new asset for the community, local business, schools and professional sport in York."

Ibbetson added: "The working support of the City of York Council is a vital requirement if we are to save City. This is not just about the immediate survival of the club, it is about the long term future of professional sport in York. We do not want to face another crisis a few years down the line."

The interim board of the Trust has appointed a number of people to key positions ahead of an AGM when elections will be held.

This includes Ibbetson as chair of the Trust, Paul Rawnsley as vice-chair, Richard Willis as society secretary and Terry Herbert as treasurer. Further official roles and responsibilities are being drawn up by the board.

Updated: 12:20 Wednesday, February 27, 2002