OUT-of-contract York City right-back Darren Edmondson is hoping to sort out Bootham Crescent future 'as soon as possible', the Evening Press can exclusively reveal.

Edmondson was at City yesterday for a meeting with the club in a bid to thrash out a new deal after his current contract, along with that of young shot-stopper Russ Howarth, officially ran out.

And although nothing was signed and sealed in that meeting, Edmondson believes that an agreement to secure his York City future can be sorted out sooner rather than later.

The 30-year-old told the Evening Press: "We are still negotiating and I can't see there being a problem really. It is just a few things that need to be ironed out.

"Everything will continue as normal for now as I honestly can't see there being a problem over this.

"Hopefully everything can be sorted out as soon as possible because it puts a damper on things when you've got it at the back of your mind.

"I'm not holding the club to ransom and they are not doing the same to me. I'm sure we can come to some agreement soon."

The former Carlisle and Huddersfield player has a number of reasons of wanting to stay at Bootham Crescent, with Edmondson seeing the closed-season work of chairman John Batchelor as a signal to exciting times ahead for the Minstermen.

"I want to stay at York City," he said. "I didn't move here to the area to then move out again just a couple of years later. Me and my wife are settled in York and enjoy it here.

"There are exciting times ahead for the club, with the new chairman and I want to be part of it."

Although now officially a free agent, Edmondson will report to City's Wigginton Road training ground as normal tomorrow for the start of the pre-season.

And already he is looking forward to working with York's big closed season signing, Luther Blissett.

"This is a sign that the club is moving in the right direction," he added. "Luther Blissett is someone will can all learn of off."

Edmondson will team up with his City team-mates at 10am tomorrow as the serious business of preparing for the new season gets into full swing.

The players will first be introduced to the new additions to the coaching staff - Blissett and fitness coach Kevin Hornsby - before the training gets underway.

And with all the players being given a fitness schedule to work to over the summer months, there will be no gentle welcome back.

Assistant-boss Adie Shaw said: "The squad were given a schedule to stick to, so they should come back in good shape. This will mean that we can get straight down to the hard work, without worrying too much about knocks, strains and pulls.

"The players will report tomorrow, Thursday, Friday and Saturday and depending on how these go, they might get Sunday off, then it will be Monday to Saturday after that."

Updated: 11:44 Tuesday, July 02, 2002