A DEAL brokered by York solicitors firm Denison Till which last week saw York City Football Club officially change hands, may now be regarded as a blueprint for similar solutions at troubled clubs throughout Britain.

The law firm has written to Alan Crozier, chief executive of the Football Association, offering to talk to any ailing clubs about similar delicate deals which offer "a much sounder basis for renewal than merely refinancing the operation and carrying on as before."

Tony Ridge, the senior partner at Denison Till, acted for previous owners, Bootham Crescent Holdings, in the multi-million pound transfer of ownership of the club to John Batchelor, the York motor racing chief.

It involved transfer of shares and property, a sponsorship arrangement and use of the ground free of charge and Mr Ridge, who was helped by his property expert partner, Sally Robinson, believes this could be a possible template for other sports clubs.

In an email to Mr Crozier, he wrote: "It occurs to me that the way in which this was done might show a way forward for other clubs who need a new start.

"The winning combination, I believe, was a board of directors who were determined to see football continue in York, a local company willing to provide sponsorship and an outside entrepreneur with exciting ideas.

"It took some ingenuity to put these elements together in a way that looked after all interests, but we managed it in the end. If this works, it offers a much sounder basis for renewal than merely refinancing the operation and carrying on as before."

While some aspects of the deal had to remain confidential, he offered to speak to any other clubs who may regard his experience as useful.

The email is likely to be taken seriously by the FA as six Football League clubs are thought to have placed themselves into administration after the collapse of ITV Digital. They include Swindon Town, Queen's Park Rangers and Bury.

Mr Ridge has a track record with Denison Till of influencing national footballing policy. On behalf of his firm he formulated contracts for York City players for the first time ever in the 1980s - the content of which was echoed in new contracts at clubs throughout the country.

He believes that the deal hammered out over the club has special significance. "This is quite different from someone who has made their pile and bought a club as a hobby, much like buying a racehorse.

"John Batchelor comes to this with a much more positive idea of building it up as the keystone of a new sports empire he is going to build around it."

Mr Batchelor, who has already revealed that he will submit twin applications for redevelopment at Bootham Crescent and a simultaneous application for a new stadium, is fulsome in his praise for the law firm.

"Denison Till's structuring of this deal and the successful completion of all the final details making it possible for me to acquire the club, creates a viable new future for football in York.

"My immediate plans are to work closely with City of York Council to secure details of the new site, which will have complementary uses to make a seven-day-a-week venue, and to cement the relationship with partners in that venture. As that progresses we will push the club up through the divisions in much the same way as I have done with York City Racing over the last four years.

"Denison Till has been exemplary. The firm's capacity to complete the vast amount of work necessary in just ten days has been remarkable, given the size and complexity of the deal."

Updated: 10:01 Tuesday, April 23, 2002