THE Treasury has been urged to give tax breaks to the supporters trust running cash-strapped York City FC.

The plea was made by City MP Hugh Bayley in a Westminster meeting with Paymaster General Dawn Primarolo yesterday.

Labour MP Mr Bayley pointed out the supporters who run the Minstermen are working to keep the club alive - not make a profit.

He asked if the Inland Revenue could offer any tax breaks to ease the financial burden on the club.

Ms Primarolo said she would consider the request over Parliament's summer recess.

She agreed to set up a meeting between Mr Bayley and Inland Revenue officials in charge of York's case earlier this year.

The IR will be asked to explain why the deal offered to the club was different to that given to Leicester City, which was allowed to repay only 10p on the pound of its own tax bill. The Minstermen were asked to pay 63p in the pound. Mr Bayley said: "It was a positive meeting. I will now look forward over the summer to my meeting with the Inland Revenue, probably in October."

Meanwhile, Persimmon Homes has responded to a petition by the Friends of Bootham Crescent, urging it to withdraw its planning application to build on York City FC's home.

The Evening Press reported in later editions yesterday how the petition, asking the company to do all in its power to enable the club to survive and prosper at Bootham Crescent, had already collected more than 500 signatures.

Managing director Ian Hessay said today: "As a York based company, Persimmon Homes is keen to see the continuation of professional football in the city. With this in mind, we have been working very closely with the new board at York City Football Club in order to secure planning consent for a new stadium and therefore assist in the club's future."

Sophie McGill, York City Football Club spokeswoman, said: "The board of the football club accepts that Bootham Crescent is for sale by the present owner.

"Persimmon, being a York-based developer, has been very co-operative with the club in trying to facilitate the proposed move to Huntington stadium and has funded essential consultants that were needed in order to prepare our planning application.

"Such co-operation may not have been forthcoming from an alternative developer outside the area."

Updated: 10:35 Friday, July 18, 2003