York City has been kicked around the place like a park football these past few months.

Bootham Crescent Holdings, the Football Association and various potential "saviours" have hoofed it back and forth with all the finesse of the worst Sunday league hackers.

They have treated this historic club with a shameful lack of respect. And just when City seemed close to finding salvation from a brutal battering, the taxman comes on in injury time to stick the boot in.

The meeting yesterday was a disgrace. Showing impressive solidarity, more than 90 per cent of the value of the creditors backed the bid by the Supporters' Trust. For the Inland Revenue to pop up and, with a casual shake of the head, wreck so much effort by the Trust, defies belief.

This is nothing less than institutional vandalism. The tax authorities must be aware that York City's future hangs by a thread. They must know that any delay to the Trust's takeover could prove fatal. And yet they only get round to raising their objections at the last minute.

There must also be serious questions asked about the handling of this situation by the administrators.

So it is left, once again, to the Trust to save the day. What a contrast we have here. In one corner, a range of faceless officialdom which seemingly could not care whether City lives or dies. In the other, this doughty group of passionate local fans, working tirelessly for something in which they believe.

Now the Trust, having already raised more than £150,000 to keep City playing, must find more cash to fund a week in which the club has two expensive away fixtures. And it still has no chance to get control of the club's finances and rein in the outgoings.

We have nothing but admiration for the fans and the Trust. Only when they have taken over will we consider York City finally to be in safe hands.

Updated: 10:27 Tuesday, March 18, 2003