York City president John Greenway today said that only Douglas Craig could safeguard the future of the football club.

Greenway, Ryedale MP and Conservative shadow minister for Sport, said the ball to secure City was "still in Mr Craig's court".

Greenway blasted the directors of Bootham Crescent Holdings (BCH), including chairman Craig, saying he found it "almost impossible that people that have given so much to the club in the past could stand by and see it go bust".

But Craig 'totally rejected' Greenway's claims and said the future of City was in the hands of the two interested parties still bidding to take it over.

Greenway spoke out following a day of turmoil in the race to save York City from a possible winding-up order on Saturday.

The Evening Press revealed yesterday how a City of York Council-backed bid, comprising of a consortium of local businesses, had collapsed.

Greenway said he was not optimistic that a deal could now be finalised in time to beat Saturday's deadline.

"I hope that, even now, we can still pull it out," he said. "But unless somebody is prepared to pay a significant amount of money for Bootham Crescent, I am not optimistic."

Craig said: "It is not in my hands. The $64 question, which no-one has addressed, is how do you fill the black hole in the club's accounts and keep it running until July 31?

"That's the crux of the problem. The consortium couldn't raise the money to enable that to happen."

Meanwhile, supporters draped their protest banners over York's historic Guildhall in a bid to urge council chiefs to step in.

More than 50 City fans protested outside the Guildhall and Mansion House last night.

Bearing placards saying "Save Our Stadium" and "CPO (Compulsory Purchase Order) Now, Save YCFC", the fans protested before attending a council meeting debating the club's plight.

Fans were divided over what action the authority could take, but were united in who was to blame for City's troubles.

They pointed the finger at BCH, the owners of Bootham Crescent.

Fred Hemenway, a York City supporter for 73 years, said: "This is down to Craig and his merry men. The club wants to stay at Bootham Crescent and they (the council) should get a Compulsory Purchase Order."

Richard Duffield, of York, said: "The stumbling block is BCH. It doesn't want the club to continue."

Jeremy Jacob, of York, said: "I am not optimistic but the council is probably the last hope. Hopefully something positive can happen."

Andrew Leathley said: "York would be a poorer place without the football club. To have a league club in a place like this, it does make a difference."

Frank Ormston, of the Friends of Bootham Crescent, said the aim was to urge officers and councillors to go "the extra mile".

"Douglas Craig has got it in his power to save the club. We are here because of his intransigence," he said.

It also emerged today that a major property tycoon is willing to build a 10,000 all-seater stadium at Naburn to house both City and York City Knights.

Paul Caddick, chairman of the Caddick Group, said he had held "informal discussions" with council chiefs about creating a super-stadium next to the McArthur Glen designer outlet on the A64 ring road.

But Caddick said he was "not interested" in buying the threatened football club.

Updated: 12:22 Wednesday, January 15, 2003