YORK City fans are being urged to turn their pledges into hard cash NOW.

With £200,000 needed in the Supporters' Trust coffers by the time of next Monday's crunch meeting of creditors, the total banked so far stands at £107,000.

John Mingay, who is co-ordinating the fans' organisation's fund-raising efforts, said without the remaining £93,000 the dream of a supporter-owned club will not be realised.

He explained if everyone who had pledged money to the Trust in recent months turned their offers into cash then the £200,000 target would be within touching distance.

"We have had more than £200,000 of pledges but not everyone has turned those pledges into cash so far," said Mingay.

"A lot of people did turn their pledges into cash when we desperately needed the £60,000 to keep the club going a couple of weeks ago, and for that we are grateful.

"However, we now need everyone who has pledged to come up with the cash. If they did we would be only about £20-£30,000 short of our target."

He added: "This really is the final push. We need everybody to pull together and rally to the cause.

"I really think a lot of people have been waiting for the right time. That time is now."

Meanwhile, mystery surrounds the fate of the athletics track at Huntington Stadium, after council chiefs gave City the go-ahead to move to the ground.

Key councillors have still not decided what will happen to the track if the stadium needs renovating to bring it up to Football League standards.

Members of the council's urgency committee yesterday agreed an application from the Trust asking for a ten-year lease at the Monks Cross ground.

The Trust said the application was 'crucial' to its bid to take over the club as it gave an 'option' and satisfied Football League requirements - the fans' body must have a viable ten-year home to get the League's approval for their take-over.

The meeting, chaired by council leader Dave Merrett, pledged to agree the move in principle, which would see the football club paying a peppercorn rent.

But the fate of the athletics track was undecided with articles being drafted to 'leave it there or find an alternative site'. The Evening Press understands that latter option, relocating the track to a new home, is being strongly considered by leisure chiefs.

Coun Merrett said: "We have an extremely good running track at the stadium. Clearly, it is an important resource.

"I don't think my group would be prepared to sacrifice the runners just like that. The important thing is continuity of facilities."

Liberal Democrat leader, Steve Galloway, said: "I think the track should stay there. It can be accommodated."

Andy Normandale, of the Nestl Rowntree Athletics Club, which uses the track, said: "I would be delighted if it means the football club is able to continue.

"Stadiums with multiple use seems to be the way we are going. There is some concern, from our point of view, if there is doubts about the track.

"But if it stays and there is more money coming into the stadium then they may even upgrade the track."

Updated: 10:50 Tuesday, March 11, 2003