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 an initial noon deadline for submissions to be received.

Administrator David Willis, of Jacksons Jolliffe Cork, revealed the Supporters' Trust had also agreed to step into the breach.

He added in a statement: "A representative from the YCFC Supporters Trust has confirmed the Trust's commitment to provide funding to enable the club to

continue to trade whilst attempts are made to conclude a sale."

The definite bid, which is said to be subject to a number of conditions, may have been made by a consortium led by a prominent local businessman who contacted the Evening Press today to make his intentions known.

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

More people have objected to plans to turn City's Bootham Crescent ground into homes than any other planning application in City of York Council history.

By yesterday, planning officers had received 1,479 letters from people regarding Persimmon's plans to turn the home of York City into 93 flats and houses.

Paul Edwards, of the council's planning department, said the vast majority of those letters were from people opposed to Persimmon's plans.

He revealed that the number of objections was nearly FIVE times more than those received for the controversial Coppergate scheme.

The huge response makes Persimmon's application the most unpopular the council has ever seen in its seven-year existence.

Mr Edwards said: "It is still unclear when the application will be heard. There are a whole raft of issues that need to be resolved.."

Ian Hessay, managing director of Persimmon Homes Yorkshire, said: "Persimmon has met with planning officers from City of York Council and is aware of the objections lodged by third parties against the proposed development at Bootham Crescent.

"The vast majority of complainants do not oppose the principal of redevelopment at Bootham Crescent, but wish to ensure that the club has suitable alternative premises to play at before redevelopment takes place.

"This is an issue which Persimmon fully appreciates and is continuing to work with the club in this respect."

Updated: 14:00 Thursday, January 16, 2003