York City fans are calling on football's top brass to launch an investigation amid the uncertainty surrounding the future of their up-for-sale club.

As reported in the Evening Press, City fans are poised to march through London on Saturday, February 23, and take their concerns about the club's plight direct to the Football Association.

With around 150 supporters expected in the capital prior to City's clash at Luton that afternoon, a petition will be presented to FA chief executive Adam Crozier asking for an investigation into the Minstermen's predicament.

The City fans will also urge the FA to demonstrate leadership and commit itself to putting the interests of football clubs, their supporters and communities ahead of financial interest of individual owners and directors.

It is hoped the petition and the march, which follows on from the peaceful walk through York city centre last month, will gain support from football supporters throughout the country.

In transferring the club and its ground to a new company, Bootham Crescent Holdings, in 1999, chairman Douglas Craig and his fellow directors said they were acting in the best interests of the Minstermen. They did nothing illegal.

However, the transfer has helped the directors of BCH side-step an FA rule which provides that when a club is wound-up its shareholders should be paid only what it originally cost them to buy their shares.

One of the organisers, Colin Matthews, an exiled fan based in London, said the FA needed to look at its rules and regulations.

"We are simply asking the FA - the supposed guardians of the English game - to take their heads out of the sand and at the very least, investigate a potential breach of rules. The actions of the directors are not in the best interest of the football club," he said.

Matthews added: "The key issue is that the money from the sale is not being reinvested in a new ground for York City. Instead, the money will be pocketed by Craig and his fellow directors. The directors appear to have side-stepped certain FA rules."

Matthews also fears the situation will set a dangerous precedent that could see owners of other clubs copying the actions of Craig, such that assets are sold off to benefit individual shareholders at the expense of football clubs and their local communities. This could lead to a domino effect, whereby several Football League clubs could disappear in the next few years.

Matthews is urging as many fans as possible to sign-up and attend the occasion. He added , "It coincides with our game at nearby Luton, so we are actively encouraging as many City fans to attend as possible."

The petition is available on-line at

http://www.yorkcitysouth.co.uk/ or you can add your name by e-mailing

fapetition@saveyork.co.uk

The Evening Press has e-mailed both Crozier and David Burns, chief executive of the Football League, last month to comment on the City position and is still awaiting a replay.

York City reserves lost 2-0 to Scunthorpe at Glanford Park last night in an Avon Insurance Division One match. The defeat leaves City's second string at the bottom of the table.

Updated: 11:38 Thursday, February 14, 2002