CRISIS club York City were handed an 11th-hour lifeline today with at least one would-be purchaser making a formal bid to save the 80-year-old club from oblivion.

Another deal was said to be pending at the time of the Evening Press going to print, with the administrators ready to extend their initial deadline for submissions to be received.

David Willis, of Jackson Jolliffe Cork, said: "The situation is that we have received one bid and a commitment from another party to make an offer to us.

"However, they have told us they can't comply to the deadline so we will have to consider that bid as and when it arrives."

The Evening Press understands the second bid was delayed because the prospective buyers were still involved in negotiations with Bootham Crescent Holdings, owners of the club's ground, as the deadline approached.

The definite bid on the table may have been made by a consortium led by a prominent local businessman, who contacted the Evening Press this morning to make his intentions known.

However, in a bizarre twist, the Press was also contacted by a third party who insisted he had also tabled a bid today.

Even with at least one offer in, the shadow of uncertainty hanging over the club and its supporters could linger for weeks.

The one confirmed bid is believed to be subject to a number of conditions centring around the future of Bootham Crescent.

Willis confirmed: "The offer we have received is subject to a number of conditions, some of which are out of the hands of the administrators so it will take a few days to go through all of these and to see whether that offer is viable."

Even if those conditions can be overcome, Willis admitted it could be February before the necessary legal paperwork is completed, and only then would the names of the new owners be made public.

There would also be nothing to stop the potential new owners or owner from walking away from the club during the time between an offer being made and any deal being signed.

"We are not able to name who the potential bidders are, nor will we be able to when we get their offers," said Willis.

"We will only be able to name who the new owners of the football club are when the sale is complete and we have a legally-binding agreement.."

Any prolonged wait while the deal is signed could also spell fresh cash worries for the Minstermen - although that could see the York City Supporters' Trust having a defining role in the future of the club.

Willis admitted there was no funding in place to see City through the next few weeks although he was "confident" the issue could be resolved "reasonably quickly".

One option would be for the bidders to fund the club while the legal paperwork is done.

Said Willis: "There are a few other options if the interested parties are not willing to put some cash into the club at this stage.

"The Supporters' Trust may be prepared to provide funding for the club in the interim.

The Trust were believed to be planning talks with the administrators today over funding.

Updated: 13:57 Thursday, January 16, 2003