York City's fight to survive was today due to be raised with Sports minister Richard Caborn at Westminster.

The city's MP Hugh Bayley was hoping to speak in a Commons debate on football called by the MP for Wimbledon, Roger Casale.

Mr Bayley said the debate had presented the perfect opportunity to take up the Minstermen's plight with Mr Caborn.

He was to argue that ownership of City's Bootham Crescent ground should not be separated from the ownership of the club. Speaking ahead of the 90-minute debate, the York MP said: "I will be pointing out that York City cannot be treated just like any other business. GNER and Nestl, for example, are important York firms - but they do not get thousands of people out every week to support them. York City's assets have come from the supporters over the years and they should stay with the club."

Chairman Douglas Craig has warned that anybody wishing to buy the club would also have to pay an additional £4.5million for the ground. If they were unable to meet the price tag, the current owners of the land - Bootham Crescent Holdings - would force the club to vacate. Meanwhile, police today praised the conduct of supporters at last night's crunch match between York City and Hull City at Bootham Crescent, which York won 2-1.

Extra officers were drafted in for the game between the two arch rivals, as trouble has flared in recent years.

But a spokesman for York police said no incidents were reported and no arrests were made inside or outside the ground.

Counting the cost: Back Page

Match report: Page 24

Updated: 11:10 Wednesday, January 30, 2002