THE new York City board will sit down next week to discuss their plans for the coming months.

Steve Beck, Sophie McGill, Jason McGill, Mike Brown and Ian McAndrew will convene during the next few days at the club to plot the future destiny of the Minstermen, once the euphoria of the acceptance of the fans' body as new owners has died down.

Having only completed the signing of contracts yesterday afternoon, following the official acceptance of their bid on Wednesday, the board have been tied up with planning today's events at the Southend match

But the hard work of steering City onwards will have to begin in earnest, with the need to maintain a constant cashflow at the club, especially during the lean summer months, one of the key issues to be addressed.

Beck, the club's new chairman, said: "We have cash in place to be injected in from the Supporters' Trust, with other donations in the pipeline, but we are looking at other initiatives - with details to be released over the next couple of weeks.

"First, the board needs to sit down and discuss the situation. We need to sit down in a calm environment, without everything else that has been going on, and look to the future."

YORK City chief Terry Dolan has welcomed the arrival of the Trust on board.

Speaking yesterday, Dolan admitted his relief that the turbulent times of late were now at an end.

"It has taken a long time to get things sorted out, but the Trust have been tremendous throughout all this," he said. "They are the people now effectively running the club, but, as they were the first to say, they are running it for the supporters and the supporters are running the club.

"I'm looking forward to getting on with them."

I HAVE to admit that I almost suffered a heart attack when new club director Mike Brown announced the completion of the deal on the fans' website www.yorkcityfc.com/forum

Under the heading, Major Announcement, Brown wrote: "Due to an unforseen legal technicality, our takeover plans have come to a grinding halt at the last minute. Despite what you might have read in the press, we have not exchanged contracts yet.

"Supporters' Trust representatives (including myself) are speeding off to Bootham Crescent to try and resolve the matter. However, it is now looking likely that tomorrow's game will be called off and City will be no more.

"I'll keep you posted.....I'm in tears."

Suddenly, gripped by sadness and frustration, I prepared to contact the Trust for a comment. But while dialling, I reached the next line of the post as Brown added: "That's the recurring nightmare I've been having all week. Now here's the real press release."

Cheers Mike, good to see you haven't lost your sense of humour!

IT seems York City have a fan at the top of the world of rugby union in Clive Woodward.

He began his love affair with rugby while studying at Easingwold School, but it seems England's coach also feel in love with Minstermen at the same time.

Woodward's secret passion was revealed in the Daily Telegraph this week, with the ex-Leicester centre talking about how saddened he was with the plight of City.

Stevo calls it a day

WING wizard Paul Stephenson (above) is to hang up his boots at the end of this season.

The 35-year-old who was popular during his spell with York City has not made a first team appearance for Third Division leaders Hartlepool United this term.

He's opted to pack it in but will be staying at Victoria Park as assistant youth team coach to Martin Scott.

Stevo also played for Newcastle, where he played alongside Paul Gascoigne, Brentford, Gillingham and Millwall in a 17-year career in which he made 448 League appearances and scored 28 goals.

Smith narrows gap at the top

CHRIS Smith's ever-growing reputation this season has been further enhanced as the former Reading defender closed the gap on the Evening Press player of the year rankings leader Chris Brass.

Smith has been in superb form this season and has now cut the lead of his centre-half partner, and skipper, Brass to just seven points.

The 21-year-old has really matured as a player this season, exemplified by his two-point award against Wrexham.

Smith was only edged out from collecting the full three points by on-loan Sunderland 'keeper Michael Ingham, who showed why City boss Terry Dolan was keen to secure his signature for the rest of the season with a number of key saves. The points see Ingham leap up the table and past fellow shot-stopper Marlon Beresford, who picked up five points before joining Burnley.

The final point from Saturday's draw went to Darren Edmondson, who is making a charge towards an unlikely double - player of the year and the golden boot!

Edmondson's strike, via a deflection off Wrexham's Darren Ferguson, was his fourth of a profitable campaign for the Cumbrian-born full-back.

Latest player of the year standings

Brass 38 points, Smith 31, Parkin 24, Duffield 22, Fettis 22, Nogan 21, Edmondson 15, Cook 13, Cowan 11, Bullock 7, Fox 7, Ingham 6, Cooper 6, Potter 6, Reddy 6, Beresford 5, Brackstone 5, Jones 4, Wise 3, Hobson 2, Shandran 2.

Raising money in fashion

IF to echo the need to keep the fund-raising events going, York City will be holding a 'Fashion Show' at the Archbishop Holgate's School, Hull Road on Wednesday, April 16.

The evening has been arranged with the help of three major local retailers, ASDA of Monk's Cross, Brown's of York and Debenhams.

Many of the first team squad, including Chris Brass, Lee Bullock, Darren Edmondson, Jon Parkin, Graham Potter and Lee Nogan and will be on parade as will the some of the club's stars of the future - Adam Arthur, Sean Davies, Graeme Law and Mathew Coad.

The players will be joined on stage by some lovely young ladies as they show us the latest fashion designs to be seen in the High Street this year.

To ensure your place at this memorable night, buy your ticket now from the club shop priced just £5.

GET your shirt on a winner.

York City Supporters' Trust are to hold a Race Night at Huntington Working Men's Club on Saturday, April 12 (7.30pm) - the night of the home game against Rochdale - to raise funds for the Trust.

The six-race card has been organised by Trust member Jim Dawes, from Low Catton, a City fan of 37 years.

It's £3 a head to join in and it is hoped that the event will raise around £1,000. For further details contact Jim on 01759 371272 or 01759 373621 or e-mail him at lizandjim@eggconnect.net

AN interesting little battle developed at the sports forum on Thursday night between City skipper Chris Brass and fan Steve Ovenden, aka Yorkie.

The event, in which Brass was a member of the panel, ended with an auction of various sporting goodies, which saw Yorkie blatantly taunt Brass as the duo bid for an Alex Ferguson-signed Manchester United shirt.

Four times when auctioneer Darren Payne was about to hit the hammer, one or the other would up the ante: "Going once, going twice, g...". "Make it £75!"

The bidding eventually ended on £90, with Yorkie winning out - or at least that's what he thought, as Brass turned round and laughed: "Pah, what would I want a Man United shirt for?"

As reported in yesterday's Press, the event raised £800 to be shared evenly between City and York City Knights.

Updated: 11:33 Saturday, March 29, 2003