THE race to save York City is rapidly developing into a five-horse race as the deadline to extinction looms large.

And the administrators currently running the club say they are 'extremely hopeful' City will be brought back from the brink.

David Willis, of Jacksons Jolliffe Cork, confirmed the nap-hand of interest in saving the Minstermen before the deadline of January 18.

He explained two of the parties expressed their interest in taking over the club prior to it going into administration.

And while those two parties are said to be 'still very much interested' they are taking their own professional advice before firming up their interest with the administrators.

Another three would-be owners have entered the frame since the club was placed in administration with talks on-going between them and the administrators.

"We are very hopeful at least one of those parties will put forward an offer," said Willis.

"We have got until January 18, which gives us two clear weeks and that should be more than enough time to get something agreed."

Despite the healthy interest, Willis admitted any take-over, by the very nature of the situation, will go down to the very last minute.

"To have five interested parties is very healthy but it is always very difficult to judge until people start actually putting offers to you," said Willis.

"We are open to offers but we will also have to carry out our own due diligence on those people making those offers to make sure their plans are achievable and sustainable.

"It will, I am sure, go right down to the line. That is generally the case.

"But it is looking hopeful."

Willis refused to divulge too much information on the parties, but described two of the five as the 'front-runners'.

He said the administrators had not held any further talks with Bootham Crescent Holdings, the company which owns the ground, over the future of the stadium.

"But I believe some of the interested parties may have done," Willis added.

"The different consortiums have their own ideas as to where they think football should be played in York."

He said he was surprised to hear that the City of York Council had expressed a tentative interest in seeking a compulsory purchase order (CPO) to buy Bootham Crescent.

"I know that the council has been involved certainly with one of the consortiums but, as far as I am aware, a compulsory order was not an issue that was raised with us at the last meeting," said Willis.

"A CPO is obviously one way to secure the future of York City at Bootham Crescent, but it is not going to be cheap."

Updated: 11:51 Saturday, January 04, 2003