FULL BACK Neville Stamp is to sign a one-year deal with York City on July 1.

The 19-year-old arrived at Bootham Crescent midway through last season from Reading and after impressing while on trial was given a contract that runs out on June 30.

After talks with City boss Terry Dolan Stamp has agreed to put pen to paper for a new deal.

Dolan is also confident that midfielder Nick Richardson, who has been with City since February, will also agree terms in the near future, while he expects to persuade striker Lee Nogan to stay with the club.

However, hopes of landing Bradford City defender Mark Bower appear to be diminishing.

Bower, who has had two spells on loan at Bootham Crescent, still has a year to run on his existing contract at Valley Parade and the Bantams have given no indication that they wish to release him despite letting a clutch of players go in the last few months to reduce the wage bill.

Bower could find himself closer to a first team place at relegated Bradford now he has gained valuable League experience with the Minstermen. Even if Bower does not reappear in City colours next season, Dolan will have the experienced Gary Hobson to call upon.

Hobson, who worked under Dolan at Hull, only managed nine starts last season after picking up a bad injury in the pre-season friendly against Manchester United.

All City players have been given individual training programmes to work at during the summer by fitness expert Ed Baranowski, who also works with Leeds United's players.

The fate of crisis-torn Chesterfield will not be decided this weekend, the Evening Press can reveal.

As reported in the Evening Press, City chairman Douglas Craig is leading the crusade to have the disgraced Spireites booted out of the Football League.

At least 13 other clubs have backed a motion calling for Chesterfield to be expelled and an Extraordinary General Meeting was expected to be staged at this weekend's Annual General Meeting of the League.

However, John Nagle, spokesman for the Football League, said today the EGM would not now be going ahead - for the time being.

Nagle said under League rules not enough notice was given for an EGM to be staged at the AGM.

However, he insisted the EGM would be going ahead in the near future. "We have got no new date for it yet but it will happen - it has to happen," he said.

Speaking before it became known the EGM would not be going ahead this weekend, Craig insisted the resolve to see Chesterfield expelled was not weakening.

Halifax Town have reportedly now withdrawn their support but according to the City chairman clubs remain defiant.

"The Third Division clubs are still not happy - there is no question of that," he told the Evening Press.

Craig, who was to propose the motion, believes as many as 25 clubs had indicated their support.

Whether that would be enough to see Chesterfield expelled when ever the EGM does take place seems unlikely, but Craig insists the cause is a just one.

"It has obviously effected Hartlepool, who would have got automatic promotion, Rochdale who would have got into the play-offs, and Barnet, who may not have been relegated," he said.

"I think that the clubs would be well advised to take the matter seriously because it does effect the good name of the League."

Chesterfield, who won promotion to Division Two, were found guilty of breaking rules regarding the falsifying of gate receipts and of giving striker Luke Beckett two contracts. Countless other charges remained "unproven".

An independent panel fined the club £20,000 and ruled that the club be docked nine-points.

The League at first refused to ratify the punishment, believing it to be too lenient.

However, the League had little option but to finally approve the points deduction when the panel, having been asked to reconsider, stood by its original verdict. Even with the points deducted, Chesterfield were able to claim an automatic promotion place.

Craig has made no secret of his anger at the "pathetic punishment" and has previously indicated the Minstermen would be willing to back other clubs in seeking a judicial review into the case.

Updated: 12:38 Friday, June 08, 2001