YORK City are expected to raise £40,000 from the sale of the club's youth trainee base.

The Minstermen board have decided to put their Grosvenor Terrace property on the market within the next week with all profits from the sale going straight back into the club.

City managing director Jason McGill bought the property last March and it is rented to the club for a minimal fee.

The purchase of the house was crucial to the adoption of the company voluntary arrangement (CVA) which enabled the Trust's takeover of the Club last year and it is believed to have a current market value of £370,000.

Selling the property also coincides with the retirement of Jen Neaves, who has managed the house and looked after the youth trainees for the past four years.

The club's apprentices will now be placed with local families who will provide lodgings and assist with their personal development.

McGill said: "It was a board decision that the trainees should be placed with local families in order to save costs and that I would then sell the Grosvenor Terrace property. I have informed the rest of the board that any profit made from the sale of the house will be donated to the club as a lump sum cash injection.

"It was never my intention to make any personal gain from the property and the timing of this decision will help the club's finances tremendously and will assist with the costs incurred by the abandoned move to Huntington Stadium."

Commenting on the changes, City player-manager Chris Brass said: "The board asked for my opinion regarding the Grosvenor Terrace house and I told them that I would personally welcome the move to place youth trainees with local families. This is the normal procedure at most clubs and the move will give the young players more privacy and increased responsibility which will hopefully further their personal development and self-discipline."

Brass added: "As a youth trainee I lived with a local family and enjoyed the experience and I'm sure the young lads next year will benefit from this change."

Updated: 13:09 Wednesday, June 02, 2004