A DRIVING force in the world of motor-racing today claimed he was a serious contender to buy York City and its Bootham Crescent ground.

John Batchelor, owner-driver of the B&Q sponsored Honda Integrity Racing Team, told the Evening Press he was at an advanced state of negotiations for the purchase.

He pledged City would become the "most unusual team" in the Football League if he succeeds.

City chairman Douglas Craig was not available for comment about the claims today.

Mr Batchelor 43, who competes in the British Touring Car Championship, said he had held "face-to-face talks on a number of occasions" with Mr Craig and was confident a deal could be done.

"If it is going to happen it has to happen quickly because of the circumstances the club is in," he said.

"We have expressed an interest and we are in an advanced stage of negotiations."

Mr Batchelor, who hails from Sheffield but now lives in Cheshire, did not balk at the £4.5million asking price.

"The value of York City is its assets," he said.

"If those assets prove to be of that value we will be talking about that sort of figure. If it proves to be less it will be for less."

Crucially, if Mr Batchelor secures the club and ground he vowed City would stay at Bootham Crescent - for the time being at least.

And he dismissed any relocation to Huntington Stadium, home of York Wasps, even in the short-term.

"I think in the short term we would be at Bootham Crescent but there is no point in getting into this if we are not ambitious.

"That site for development as far as football is concerned is a non-starter.

"York could do with a decent concert venue among other things but you need to have something more than just a draughty old stadium.

"If we are going to be ambitious the ground will have to accommodate 9,000 people."

Mr Batchelor described the fact football grounds are in use just one day every two weeks as "insanity".

"The ground would have to operate seven days a week, you cannot rely just on the football club," he explained

"My background is in attracting sponsorship and from that point of view with the football club we can offer sponsors a wider range of products," he said

"We will be most unusual team in the league if we get hold of it (City)".

Mr Batchelor said B&Q's sponsorship of his Honda Integrity Racing Team ensured the team had "the biggest high street name on the grid last season".

He even changed his name by deed-poll to John B&Q last year to raise the team profile.

Mr Batchelor also indicated a willingness to work with the fans and a Supporters' Trust.

"There isn't a club if it doesn't have any fans," he said.

Mr Batchelor, who will be at tomorrow's big FA Cup clash with Fulham and has attended the last couple of home games, explained his reasons for going public with his interest.

"We have been wanting to keep it out of the press until we are further down the line or it would be just fruitless speculation.

"But our racing season starts on April 1, and it is going to be very difficult to keep a lid on our interest for very much longer."

He added: "I will be making the bid but other people are involved. It is not a consortium, it is a group of interested parties who see an opportunity."

Mr Batchelor explained he made his money after re-mortgaging his house and setting up his own business, System Hygiene, selling hygiene goods to companies.

He has been involved in motor-sports on a full-time basis for the last three years. The Evening Press reported on January 10 this year that an unnamed motor-racing chief had expressed an interest in buying the club.

Updated: 12:56 Friday, January 25, 2002