THE loss of the reserve team for York City Football Club will be a disaster.

It would not be as bad as the relegation from the Football League, but it would certainly contribute to them having very little chance of regaining their league status for many years.

I can't imagine that many quality footballers (the type needed by the club) would be happy to sign a short term contract on relatively low wages for a club which does not have a reserve team structure.

Players may not like being in the reserves but at least it gives them a chance to stake a claim for a game in the first team and return to match fitness following injury.

The time may be right for those old directors of Bootham Crescent Holdings (Douglas Craig, Barry Swallow and Colin Webb) to make a donation to the club to save the reserve team.

I am sure it would not immediately spark a flood of City fans offering their forgiveness but it would be a start. I especially hope that Barry Swallow, as a former player, would recognise the need for the reserve team and see he is now in a position to make a difference.

Ian Tyssen,

Keble Park North,

Bishopthorpe, York.

Updated: 09:45 Monday, March 28, 2005