YORK City chairman Douglas Craig has flatly rejected rumours he is to quit the club at the end of the season.

And in almost the same breath as scotching the speculation Craig disclosed the club were keen on making a bid for Lumley Barracks should it come up for sale under Ministry of Defence cuts.

After both City's home games this past week rumours surfaced that the City supremo was planning to step down next summer and sell the club. But Craig laughed off the suggestion with a one word denial firmly in the negative. He added his departure would only come about if he 'fell under the proverbial bus'.

The chairman, however, was more expansive over the prospects of City extending Bootham Crescent into the adjacent Lumley Barracks in the event of the Territorial Army base going up for sale.

A leaked document two months ago disclosed that at least one of York's three TA centres could be axed under MoD moves to save millions of pounds.

Besides Lumley Barracks, in Burton Stone Lane - directly behind the popular stand at Bootham Crescent - there are TA centres at the Yeomanry Barracks and Worsley Barracks, both in Fulford Road.

The proximity of the latter two to the Army base at Imphal Barracks would suggest Lumley as the most vulnerable of the three TA bases. A final decision from the MoD is expected next autumn.

Should the Lumley base be sold, then City would likely submit a bid, confirmed Craig.

"We certainly would be interested in trying to put our hands on it. It would be great if we could get it," said the City chairman.

"The problem is government policy would put it on the open market up to the highest bidder. Whether we could afford it at a price it might go for I don't know."

Acquiring the barracks would give the club's potential to develop a huge boost, but Craig realised it 'would not be easy' with the Lumley site prime land.

"But then again, who would want to be alongside a football ground?" he quipped.

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