YORK City have been afforded favourable odds to win the Division Three championship.

Fans of the Minstermen will be hoping - cash investment notwithstanding - that their favourites will still manage to generate more than a flutter of excitement on the pitch during the 2001-02 season.

After three terms largely of toil and tedium the City faithful are desperate for a sign that the good times are returning to the Crescent.

A price of 25-1 on the chances of the Nationwide League division three title banner billowing at Bootham Crescent this time next May should entice punters to lay out some hard-earned cash.

Bookmaking giants Ladbroke have bracketed the Minstermen alongside five other clubs - Kidderminster Harriers, Scunthorpe United, Lincoln City, Rochdale and Cheltenham - as boasting fair to middling chances of finishing the basement's top dogs in just over nine months' time.

Favourites to lift the championship are Hull City. The Tigers, managed by Brian Little, who has his elder brother Alan Little, the ex-York boss, in tow as chief scout, are priced at 9-2.

Not far behind Hull at 10-1 fourth favourites are Nationwide new boys Rushden & Diamonds, who visit Bootham Crescent in Saturday's opening salvoes to the new term.

And primed for the dreaded descent? That dubious distinction is shared by Carlisle United and Exeter City, each ranked 50-1 outsiders to win the championship.