GOALKEEPER Alan Fettis looks all but certain to stay at Bootham Crescent.

The news will also be a massive fillip to the York faithful after the Northern Ireland international became an instant hit at the end of last season.

City boss Terry Dolan, who has played a patient waiting game as Fettis took time to consider his future, said negotiations over the player's contract would be tak-ing place over the next few days.

But he said: "The fact he is here and training should give an indication (that he will be staying).

"We will be sitting down and sorting out his contract with the chairman over the next few day."

The vastly-experienced keeper's arrival in March had Bootham Crescent buzzing with anticipation.

Signed from Blackburn Rovers, Fettis was lured by the promise of first-team football after falling down the pecking order at Ewood Park and made an imme-diate impact.

However, he was always reticent about committing himself to City beyond the summer believing he would have to be playing at a higher level if he was to res-urrect his international career with Northern Ireland.

In 13 appearances, City lost just twice, conceded only seven goals - including just two in their last seven - as Fettis recorded nine clean sheets.

That sort of form did not go unnoticed by Northern Ireland boss Sammy McIlroy, who recalled Fettis to the squad to face Hungary after illness struck Wigan's Roy Carroll.

Fettis had to be content with a place on the bench but the City faithful hoped a point had been made - Fettis did not have to leave Bootham Crescent to gain recog-nition.

Fettis, 29, was previously number two at Nottingham Forest after starting his ca-reer under Dolan at Hull City. He has also had loan spells at West Bromwich Albion and Leicester City.

Fettis, Russ Howarth and junior keeper's John Collinson and Mark Hampshire were yesterday put through their paces by the former Everton and Wales legend Neville Southall.

Dolan has again recruited Southall to put the City net minders through their paces for the coming season.

The City manager declared he was more than satisfied with the way the first day of pre-season had gone.

All the senior squad had reported back with a clean bill of health and were soon into their stride as staff from Newlife, the fitness team recruited by Dolan and led by Ed Baranowski, monitored their fit-ness.

For much of the build-up to kick-off on August 12 they will be training twice a week, working on ball skills and tactics in the morning and their fitness in the af-ternoon.

The squad will also be required to train on a Saturday morning.