York City skipper Chris Brass is relishing the prospect of talking loud and proud after the Minstermen were given a temporary stay of execution.

With two take-over bids on the table and the Supporters' Trust willing to shell out the cash to fund the club while negotiations continue, Brass admitted the players could now at least try to focus on tomorrow's game with Swansea City.

And having spent much of the last five days giving interviews on the club's off-field problems, the City captain said he hoped by 5pm tomorrow he would have the chance to wax lyrical about three points and a fine performance.

"We have just got to try and get our minds focused on the Swansea game now," a relieved Brass told the Evening Press.

"We trained yesterday and obviously all anyone could really talk about was the noon deadline and what might happen.

"We still have a lot of questions to ask because we haven't been given a lot of answers.

"But at least we can go into the game knowing the immediate threat is over and if we can get the right result we will be talking about events on the pitch rather than off it."

Even though the club's future is far from secure - negotiations could yet drag on for up to four weeks before any deal is sealed - Brass admitted yesterday's developments had to be viewed as a positive.

"Having two bids on the table is the best that could have happened and at least we haven't been told that the club no longer exists," said Brass, who is poised to return to the starting line-up tomorrow for the first time since breaking his cheekbone in the 2-1 defeat at Kidderminster last month.

"Unfortunately, we are still in the dark as to just what the future holds. But at least there are people willing to try and save the club and that has to give us cause for optimism.

"I just hope it is not a case of prolonging the agony and I won't believe everything is okay until a deal is signed and sealed and I'm reading it in the paper."

City defender Darren Edmondson, the club's Professional Footballers' Association representative, hailed the gesture by the Supporters' Trust to fund the club through the next few weeks as "fantastic".

It means the players, who apart from a payment from their union last month have been playing for nothing since the club went into administration, are at least assured of their basic wages until a deal is finalised.

Edmondson, who may miss tomorrow's game after picking up an injury at Torquay last Saturday, admitted the uncertain situation had been weighing heavily with the players.

"But this has lifted me a little bit to know that there are supposedly two parties involved and the Trust are going to help us until they can sort it out," said Edmondson.

"People were getting a bit tetchy and a bit touchy. There was a bit of snapping at each other, but that is to be expected. It's been a long month."

City boss Terry Dolan rousingly saluted the Trust and the fans.

He said: "On behalf of all the players I would like to say a big, big thank-you to the Trust and all the fans who have contributed.

"I think it is absolutely amazing what they have done, but it just goes to show how much they care about the club.

"As a team tomorrow we have got to go out there and get a result to repay everyone."

Match points

York City v Swansea

The Welsh club have recorded three victories and two draws in their 14 previous league visits to Bootham Crescent.

City's biggest win in the series was 5-1 in 1965/66 when Andy Provan (2), John Pearson, Paul Aimson and Billy Rudd were the marksmen.

Other notable successes were 3-0 in 1969/70 and 1972/73.

The Swans won the corresponding game last term 2-0 on November 20, 2001. The crowd of 1,840 was the smallest of the season and City lined up: Fettis, Cooper, Smith (Darlin), Hobson (Maley), Hocking, Potter, Richardson (Edmondson), Brass, Bullock, Nogan, Proctor.

Among the players who have represented both clubs are Alan Woods, Pat Lally, Barry Wellings and John Williams.

City are bidding for a hat trick of wins over Swansea this season having recorded 2-1 victories at the Vetch Field in August and in the FA Cup at York in November.

Updated: 11:43 Friday, January 17, 2003