NEW York City signing Graham Potter is not planning to stay around the Third Division for long.

Instead, the former England Under-21 international wants to help the Minstermen win promotion.

The 25-year-old, who as reported in later editions of yesterday's Evening Press signed from West Bromwich Albion on a free transfer under the Bosman ruling, has joined City on a three-year deal.

And he is keen to start a new chapter in his career by helping to bring success and Division Two football back to Bootham Crescent.

"I'm hoping we won't be in this division for too long," said the 6ft 1in star, who is comfortable playing at left-back, left wing-back or left midfield. "I want to get promotion this season and then take it from there. I've been impressed by the manager and York ended last season with a decent run, so I believe we can do it."

Potter signed for Albion for £300,000 from Southampton in February 1997 after breaking into the Premiership club's first team just four times.

He had moved to The Dell - where he was Graeme Souness's first signing - seven months earlier for £250,000, after enjoying a fine spell at Stoke City which earned him his single England Under-21 appearance against Moldova.

The Solihull-born left-footer also represented his country at Under-18 level while with his first club, Birmingham City, before moving to Stoke for £75,000 in 1993.

He was the first player ex-West Brom manager Ray Harford took to the Hawthorns but struggled to hold down a regular place and had loan spells at Northampton and at Reading.

His contract with the Baggies ran out after they narrowly avoided relegation from Division One last season.

Once described by former England, Leeds and Birmingham defender Terry Cooper as 'England's next left-back', Potter said he had no qualms about dropping down into the Third Division.

He said: "In this day and age it's essential to be playing first team football. I was a squad player at West Brom and I wanted to go somewhere where I felt comfortable and could play first team football.

"I suffered a couple of injuries at West Brom and although they were only minor they happened at the wrong time. Also, we had four managers in the three years I was there so that made it difficult.

"And I was competing for a place with Republic of Ireland international Kevin Kilbane (now at Sunderland) for a lot of that time so it was hard to establish myself. I'm wanting to get my career back on the road."

City boss Terry Dolan did not interrupt his holiday to be at Bootham Crescent yesterday to complete the deal, which was merely a case of dotting the i's and crossing the t's.