year before the present one expires.

But while the Bermudian striker sees City as a club moving in the right direction, he doesn't want to sign too soon in case the team again fail to win promotion from the Second Division.

At 27, Goater says he's anxious to follow fellow Bermudian Kyle Lightbourne into the Premier League and realises this season will be a crucial one for him.

"The boss said he wants to sit down and have a chat before the first game of the season but at this time my mind is more on the game than actual contracts,'' said Goater last night.

"There is a lot of time to negotiate so I don't want to rush to do anything.

I have stressed to the club that it is my intention to play at as high a level as I can and I would love to do it with Bristol City.

"But we'll just carry on and see how we do. If I'm doing as well as I can, I'm sure that will only make things better for me whether I'm negotiating with Bristol City or some other club.'' City have shown their ambition by signing fresh players, including a new goalscoring partner for Goater.

Australian Paul Agostino, Goater's partner last season, was at the end of his contract and exercised his right under the Bosman ruling to get a free transfer to a club in Germany.

The City signings include defender Shaun Dyche from Chesterfield for 350,000, Colin Cramb from Doncaster and Mickey Bell, a full back.

"We're already very good on the left side. About 15 of my goals came from left-sided crosses last season,'' noted Goater.

"With what the (City) chairman spent on players this year, about 600,000, we are certainly looking at getting promoted.'' Last year City failed in the promotion play-offs, a big disappointment for a club with First Division potential.

"We came on strong towards the end of the season but if you're looking at straight promotion you need to have two strikers scoring 20 goals,'' said Goater who led the scoring with 25, twice as many as the next highest scorer.

"I'm hoping not to get injured, and if I'm playing in the majority of the games I'm hoping to be among the leading goalscorers again. From then it's a matter of Bristol City coming to me and saying `we want to offer you a new contract' or me trying to sort something out elsewhere.'' Goater went to Coventry on Sunday to watch Lightbourne play against Dutch side Feyenoord. And he says he's proud that another Bermudian will once again be playing in the top division in England, following the achievements of Clyde Best in the 1970s.

"I'm delighted that he's made it because all the hard work has paid off,'' said Goater. "I'm hoping that he does well because then people will look and say `these two had the same goalscoring records and are from the same country'. It has always been my goal to come over here and play in the highest division.

"When I had the opportunity at `Man-U' (Manchester United) I was a bit young at the time and the opportunity came a bit too early for me to grasp it. But I'm delighted for Kyle and I will be watching him play a lot of games.

"I'll look at how Kyle plays in the Premiership and see myself and that will give me an idea of how he copes with it. I think he'll do very well.'' SHAWN GOATER -- still hoping to play in a higher division.