York City have reached agreement with First Division Reading in the Graeme Murty cash dispute, the Evening Press can reveal.

"We have come to a negotiated settlement with them," confirmed City chairman John Batchelor.

City, who argued they were still owed £50,000 from the Royals, are not revealing the amount Reading have agreed to pay.

However, by brokering a deal both clubs have avoided having to look to a Football League tribunal to resolve the row.

City believed they were due the £50,000 after Reading won promotion to Division One last season.

As part of the transfer that took Murty to the Madejski Stadium in 1998, a clause was inserted in the deal that would guarantee City the cash should Reading earn promotion while Murty was at the club.

However, Reading re-negotiated a new deal with the player at the end of last season and claimed the new contract meant the clause was now void.

As reported in the Press yesterday, Murty is currently recovering at home after suffering whiplash in a car accident on Monday.

Murty escaped serious injury, but is doubtful for Reading's clash at Rotherham on Saturday.

Meanwhile, Batchelor has postponed his planned trip to America until the end of the British Touring Car Championship later this month.

"There is just too much happening to go now but I will have to go at some point," explained the City supremo.

"I am just trying to find a hole in my diary to enable me to go for a couple of weeks, probably after the final race of the season at Donington."

Batchelor who has changed the club's name from York City Football Club to Soccer Club in order to attract sponsorship and interest from across the Atlantic, had intended to fly out to America at the end of August.

Updated: 09:08 Wednesday, September 04, 2002