BARCLAYCARD has withheld almost £60,000 from York City in season ticket credit card payments - just two weeks before the Minstermen's Nationwide Conference campaign kicks off.

The credit card company has told City officials that payments into the club's account would be delayed 12 months after acting on the advice of the club's bank which - Barclaycard says - believes there is a risk the Bootham Crescent outfit could go out of business this season.

The decision was made despite Barclaycard being shown a copy of the club's financial accounts for the last year. They revealed a profit of £83,970, compared to £332,338 losses during the first three months of the Supporters' Trust's ownership.

Barclaycard is currently responsible for sanctioning use of payments, using all credit cards, at Bootham Crescent.

Many Minstermen fans have been left confused after their card accounts were credited with the same amount they had paid for their 2004/2005 season tickets.

But the accounts will be debited in due course with a new method of transaction and supporters will still be given their season tickets.

Barclaycard is owned by Barclays, official sponsors of the FA Premier League, and also have an existing five-year deal to distribute Manchester United credit cards across the world.

But its relationships with lower division football clubs appears less committed.

Barclaycard press officer Ian Barber said: "The issue we have got when accepting credit cards for season tickets is that supporters can be reimbursed for any unplayed matches. The credit card company would then get the money back from the club's bank.

"For the credit card payments to be withheld means the bank is not entirely convinced the club will be around in 12 months and don't want to be liable if they go bust. It's not a question of saying we think they'll go out of business, but there's a risk and we need to mitigate that."

City finance director Terry Doyle said: "Barclaycard aren't keen on newly-run football clubs. They froze our account and said we could not have the money, amounting to nearly £60,000, for 12 months.

"I felt that was unreasonable. They have since agreed to reinstate shop usage and match day usage, but not season ticket usage.

"We have said that we can find alternative ways for supporters to pay us by credit card. They rejected that at first but then saw it as a reasonable suggestion."

Updated: 08:31 Saturday, July 31, 2004