POTENTIAL new York City owner John Batchelor today revealed he would hope to see the Minstermen playing in a new stadium within two years.

Batchelor, who is said to be closing in on a take-over deal at Bootham Crescent, confirmed he has already made contact with City of York Council and cast his eye over possible locations for a new ground.

"At the moment we are looking at available sites for the new stadium, that is what we spent all of yesterday doing," confirmed the 43-year-old.

"Before anything can happen with the old ground we need to know where we are going to go, purely from a planning point of view."

Batchelor, owner driver of the B&Q-sponsored Honda Integra Racing Team, said the time-scale of a move to a new home would depend on the granting of planning permission.

"I see us staying at Bootham Crescent for the next two seasons but beyond that would make it very difficult for us to implement our plans for the club," he said.

Batchelor declined to name the possible sites for a new ground for the time being, but stressed the need for consensus.

"That is why we have been in contact with the council, we want to fulfil everyone's criteria," he said.

"We want a consensus that everyone, including the fans, is happy with."

Batchelor, who has pledged to make City the most "unusual team" in the Football League if his bid is successful, confirmed he met with members of the Save City working party prior to Saturday's game with Fulham.

He also pledged he would be willing to have supporter representation on the board of the club.

"We were just putting names to faces on Saturday," he explained.

"I am very keen to work with them and they seem a very sensible lot. They have obvious commercial acumen and it was very refreshing."

Batchelor, who competes in the British Touring Car Championship, is believed to be one of two serious bidders in negotiations with current chairman Douglas Craig for the purchase of both the club and ground.

"I will be having further meetings with Mr Craig later this week and we will see what transpires," said Batchelor, who is believed to have also approached Carlisle United about a possible takeover last year.

Flamingo Land owner Gordon Gibb, who has also expressed an interest in taking over the club, has indicated he still intends to press ahead with a bid.

City chairman Craig has confirmed Gibb is not one of the two potential buyers he is in talks with.

However, Gibb, who is said to be seeking more details on the club, is still intending to press ahead with submitting a formal bid within the next few weeks.

Updated: 11:45 Tuesday, January 29, 2002