Gain, fret and Batch

Batchelor insisted but for him City's overall estimated deficit would have been much greater, touching the £3million mark.

He also said only the money owed to Northcross, the firm he hired to re-brand the club, was 'down to him' and expenses such as players' contracts, shirt sponsorship and the hiring of coaches was done before his arrival.

Batchelor also said he put in over £100,000 when he took over and contributed another £10,000 last month during administration to keep the club trading for another week.

However, while Batchelor is of course entitled to defend his record I believe his Bootham Crescent tenure served only to make a bad situation worse.

In recent weeks, Douglas Craig and Supporters' Trust representatives have said they believed the £400,000 sponsorship agreement signed with Persimmon was destined for the football club.

Batchelor, contrary to earlier public statements when the deal was first announced, has always insisted the deal was exclusively for his motor-racing team.

The contract, seen by the Evening Press, backs-up that claim because it makes no reference to the football club.

However, the Evening Press believes Persimmon did intend the money to go to helping City.

However, as a national company they could not be seen to sponsor the locally-based Minstermen and so signed the agreement with Batchelor's national motor-racing team believing the cash would trickle through to Bootham Crescent, we understand.

Batchelor himself has confirmed of that £400,000, City saw only £100,000 and that money was in fact only 'loaned' to the club.

Of the latter figure, some £70,000 has subsequently been withdrawn to pay for motor-racing activities, including hospitality and tickets and other race team expenditure.

Batchelor will claim this was legitimate because he was trying to associate City with the motor-racing team for the football club's benefit. In any case, said Batchelor, it was 'his money'.

However, without the involvement of York City, would Persimmon have ever really sponsored a BTCC production class race team to the tune of £400,000?

Needless to say a sum of £400,000 would go a long way to easing City's current problems and safeguarding the club's short-term future.

Other expenses accumulated by Batchelor during the 12 months include the re-branding of the club. Northcross may still be owed more than £28,000 but the Evening Press understands their actual bill was at least double that amount.

At the same time, Luther Blissett was added to an already full complement of coaching staff and Batchelor appointed his own PA, both salaries adding to an already hefty wage-bill.

The discounted season ticket offer, whereby season-tickets for next season were sold at half-price, may have realised around £100,000 for the club at the end of last year.

Batchelor has stated publicly he will repay the fans sold 2003-2004 tickets should City go under or a new owner fail to honour his deal.

But under their proposal, the Trust are intending to honour the agreement if their bid is accepted.

In effect, that means the Trust, should they become the club's new owners, could miss out on around £200,000 which they could have expected to bank from selling the tickets at full price over this summer.

Added to all that is the price of taking the club into administration - insolvency experts are not cheap and still have to be paid.

It should also be noted that it will be the Trust who will have to pay the unpaid players' wages dating back to the end of last year, when Batchelor was still in charge, should they take-over the club in the coming weeks.

Last but by no means least, it should also be remembered that Batchelor signed away the club's 25 year lease on Bootham Crescent in exchange for a one year lease which expires in June.

The money problems can be perhaps defended as misguided attempts to help the football club.

But the signing away of the lease was simply nonsensical.

ANYONE doubting the cost of administration, as necessary as it may have been, need only to read the document sent out to creditors this week.

It states the estimated cost of preparing the hefty document and then posting it out cost £12,000 plus VAT and disbursements. In addition, solicitors' fees add another £7,500 to the bill.

It is a price-tag that makes you wince.

However, it looks like the massive bill will be avoided in the future.

More than 1,500 'creditors' received the document detailing the Trust's proposal because they are season-ticket holders.

The document explains season-ticket holders would only become creditors if the club ceased to exist and for the value of the unexpired part of their tickets.

The document states the Trust, under the terms of their bid, will honour all obligations to season ticket holders and if their offer is accepted they will receive "full value".

Therefore, it will only be necessary to contact season-ticket holders again if the Trust's bid fails.

The document states: "Creditors should be aware that substantial costs are incurred in each circular sent to creditors due to the large number of season ticket holders currently treated as creditors and it is for this reason and for the benefit of creditors as a whole that the administrator makes this particular proposal."

With it being such a massive document then it is perhaps not surprising to find at least one error in the creditors' pack.

It lists York City's registered office prior to administration being at Bootham Crescent, York, West Yorkshire.

'Ecky thump, I think someone is Tyke-ing the mickey.

THE next meeting of the Harrogate Minstermen will be on Monday with City legend Paul Barnes set to attend the fan gathering.

A big turn-out is expected at the Board Inn, High Street, Knaresborough, to welcome the former goalscoring legend, who is now plying his trade with Doncaster Rovers.

New and existing members are welcome to attend the night, which will kick-off at 8pm.

The Harrogate Minstermen, who have become a very active branch since their inception and are regular bucket collectors on match-days, have a number of fundraising initiatives planned.

They include a sponsored head shave with member Matthew Butler agreeing to have his flowing locks sheared during the half-time interval of next Saturday's home game with Bournemouth.

A brave quartet of the Harrogate Minstermen have also agreed to join the York Angels in providing pre-match entertainment at next Saturday's game.

Mark Outhwaite, Darren Hall, Steve Haigh and Andy Ashton, dubbed the Harrogate Minsterettes, are to join the Angels in their pre-match dance routine.

Sponsorship forms for both events are available from the Bootham Crescent shop and ther Supporters' Trust recruitment hut between the David Longhurst and Popular Stand.

Three is the magic number

IT WAS threesy-does it for all concerned in the Evening Press player of the year rankings this week.

Chris Brass maintained his six-point lead after the trips to Rushden and Darlington, picking up the man of the match award and three points at Nene Park.

However, his nearest challenger, Chris Smith, also enjoyed a three-star return, picking up two points against the Diamonds and adding a further point to his tally against the Quakers.

Richard Cooper also celebrated a three-point haul after earning a point at Rushden and two at Darlington and likewise midfielder Lee Bullock, who scored City's goal at Feethams and was named man of the match.

Brass 35 points, Smith 29, Duffield 22, Fettis 22, Parkin 22, Nogan 17, Cook 13, Edmondson 12, Cowan 11, Fox 7, Bullock 6, Potter 6, Reddy 6, Beresford 5, Brackstone 5, Cooper 3, Ingham 3, Wise 3, Hobson 2, Shandran 2, Jones 1.

Brad's the ticket for star night

WHAT a fan-tastic night the Trust's legends dinner at York Racecourse proved to be.

Great food and great company and amid all the off-field troubles a chance to reminisce over happier times and look forward to a brighter future.

A special mention of thanks must be made to City fan Graham Bradbury, who organised the event in record time and under very difficult circumstances.

Members of the Trust and, Bradbury in particular, worked tirelessly to make the night a magnificent success.

Shirts and tie-up

FUNDRAISERS have been putting their shirt on the York City Supporters' Trust.

Bootham School rallied to the cause of City by staging a 'football shirt day' in aid of the fans' organisation.

Pupils at the private school paid £1 for the privilege of wearing their club's shirt for the day.

Club mascot Yorkie and Sophie McGill, a former Bootham School pupil, were both on hand to show the Trust's appreciation for the event, which raised more than £300.

Headmaster Ian Small, who joined in with the rest of the staff in sports strip, said: "We are keen to lend our support to this important part of York's community."

A similar initiative was undertaken by staff at the Learning and Skills Council North Yorkshire, based at Clifton Moor. Organised by City fan Alison Darnley, the event raised another £101 for the Trust.

McGill said: "The strength of feeling regarding the Trust's efforts to save York City FC seems to have touched the heart of the community.

"These fantastic fundraising initiatives are all contributing towards our efforts to save the club. I feel especially proud that Bootham, the school I attended, has chosen to offer the Trust its help and support in this way."

Updated: 09:11 Saturday, March 08, 2003