FORMER York City director Nick Townend today broke his silence ahead of next week's critical creditors' meeting at Bootham Crescent.

Townend, whose company, Northcross, designed the re-branding of the Minstermen during John Batchelor's ill-fated reign, refused to say whether he would be voting in favour of the Trust's proposal on Monday.

Northcross is owed more than £28,000 and is one of the club's biggest unsecured creditors.

Instead, and although accepting the Supporters' Trust have inherited the club's financial problems, he insisted bridges must be mended with the local business community, some of whom are being encouraged to waive debts in order for the fans' body take-over to succeed.

Last week, John Dodsworth, whose company J Dodsworth Coaches is owed almost £9,500, said he would be forgoing the debt and supporting the Trust's proposal at Monday's meeting.

He urged other creditors, like Northcross, to do likewise.

Describing the vote as 'academic', Townend, managing director of Northcross, said it was more important the Trust looked at the 'broader picture'.

"I am concerned that, unless addressed properly, the damage caused to creditors, many of whom are local businesses employing local people, by the position that the club finds itself in will be irrecoverable," he said.

"It is essential that the prospective purchasers of the club recognise the plight of the businesses damaged by these dire circumstances, without whose support into the future the club will continue to experience difficulty.

"With respect to the 4,000 or so supporters going through the turnstiles each week, the club needs far greater financial support and sponsorship than the gate receipts and quite meagre merchandise sales provide.

"While I appreciate the sentiment behind various parties' urge to encourage creditors to vote for the proposal as set out by the administrators, I urge the Supporters' Trust to recognise that, whilst working tirelessly to retain a professional standard in the city for the community, the many local businesses left exposed by this position are a significant part of the community and, of course, which employ many of the club's fans."

Townend said the £28,000 owed to Northcross is for sums payable to third-party suppliers for painting of the Main Stand at Bootham Crescent, the new signage bearing the new club badge and the printing of season tickets and holders.

"Northcross has already honoured these payments to its suppliers," said Townend.

Under the Trust's proposed company voluntary arrangement, the unsecured creditors of the cash-strapped club can only expect a fraction, if anything, of what they are owed.

But if creditors do not agree to the proposal, the administrator currently running the football club has warned City will fold.

Updated: 09:33 Friday, March 14, 2003