Gloden Graham

York City were this afternoon signing West Bromwich Albion's former England Under-21 international Graham Potter.

The 25-year-old has agreed terms and was being put through a medical at Green Hammerton today and provided there are no problems will sign a three-year deal.

No fee is involved as Potter left the Hawthorns under the Bosman ruling.

A midfielder or defender, the left-footed player could well slot in to the position occupied by loan player Peter Hawkins last season before he returned to Wimbledon.

A six-footer, Solihull-born Potter made his debut as a 17-year-old for Birmingham City with whom he was capped for England at youth level.

After a loan spell with Wycombe Wanderers he joined Stoke City in 1994 for £75,000, enjoying his best season in 1995-96.

That prompted a move to Southampton in July 1996 where he did well enough to win an England Under-21 cap against Moldova.

But things didn't work out for him at The Dell and he returned to the Midlands with West Brom in a £300,000 deal in February 1997. He has spent the last three years, which have included a loan spell with Northampton Town and last term had a stint with Reading before being transfer-listed at the end of the season.

Darlington boss David Hodgson has quashed speculation linking City with Quakers' striker Peter Duffield.

But former City striker Marco Gabbiadini was expected to depart Feethams today to sign for division two new boys Northampton Town.

And one time York goalkeeper Mark Samways has been released by Darlington, told by Hodgson he is not part of his plans for the forthcoming season.

Diminutive frontman Duffield was rumoured to be a Terry Dolan target after the City boss missed out on Luke Beckett.

But Hodgson today moved quickly to pour cold water on poacher Duffield departing, particularly with Gabbiadini set to pledge his allegiance to the Cobblers.

Hodgson admitted he had heard the rumours linking City with 30-year-old Duffield but insisted there had been no contact between the clubs.

Middlesbrough-born Duffield bagged 13 goals for Darlington last season and still has one year left to run on his current contract.

He started his career with his hometown club before signing with Sheffield United followed by loan spells with Halifax Town, Rotherham, Blackpool, Bournemouth, Stockport County and Crewe.

It was in the Scottish first division that he made his name, however, bagging 39 goals in just 72 appearances for Hamilton followed by shorter stints with Airdrieonians, Raith Rovers, Morton and Falkirk.

Only last week, the Evening Press reported Darlington chairman George Reynolds said he was expecting Gabbiadini, top scorer in division three for the last two seasons, to sign for Northampton.

Northampton have beaten off a host of clubs from both the second and third division as well as the Scottish Premier League for Gabbiadini, who was expected to put pen to paper at the Sixfields Stadium this afternoon.

Samways was perhaps the surprise omission from Darlington's retained list announced today.

The 31-year-old shot stopper, who made 29 appearances for the Minstermen, played about two-thirds of last season after injury ruled out Darlington number one choice Andy Collett.

But Samways contract is now up and Hodgson has decided against offering him an extension.

FORMER York City defender Kevan Smith, another ex-Darlington player, has been appointed joint assistant manager at Hull City with David Moore, the former Grimsby and Carlisle player.

Smith joined York from Coventry in May 1988 for £40,000, but left 12 months later for Darlington in a cut-price £10,000 deal.

His other clubs include Rotherham, Hereford United, Whitby Town and Maltese outfit Sliema Wanderers.