Anyone wishing to offer their support and solidarity should meet at York Minster at 1.30pm.
York City is not just another small club struggling financially. Given that
it has one of the highest wage bills in Division Three the Club has made
significant losses over the past few seasons. However, the bank overdraft
is small compared to many other lower division clubs.
The 'killer blow' is the proposal by the directors (who also happen to be
the key shareholders, with 94% ownership) to sell the Club's home to the
highest bidder for around £5 million before the end of March 2002. The
Bootham Crescent site is prime development land in a city with booming
property prices. Not only have Douglas Craig and his fellow directors
announced that they intend to quit the Club, but the Club must quit its home of the last 70 years and, if it survives, find somewhere else to play in the 2002/03 season.
new ground for York City. Instead the majority of the money will go to
Craig and his fellow directors. This week Craig sits on the arbitration
panel that is deciding whether the owners of Wimbledon can move the club to Milton Keynes.
The actions of the directors are not in the best interests of York City
Football Club. We risk losing our football club.
City, who this Saturday face millionaire club Fulham in the FA Cup 4th
round, have an 80 year history of great cup adventures.
The game against Lincoln City was chosen for a number of reasons:
* It is the day after the official launch of the York City Supporters' Trust;
* Lincoln are one of only two clubs in the Football League owned
entirely by a Supporters' Trust; and
* It was also against Lincoln that City favourite David Longhurst
collapsed and died in September 1990 and subsequently the new Shippo stand was named after him.
It is very important all fans stand together at times like these. This is
not just about York City. It is about the survival of clubs up and down the
country. The FA are supposed to be the guardian of the English game.
The Fans United Day will help to demonstrate to everyone the depth of feeling about this matter.
More information will be released in due course about the events on the day.
Please visit www.saveyork.co.uk for more info