York City faces one of the most important 90 minutes of its history next Monday.

That's when fans will hear of plans to establish a Save City Committee and the formation of a Supporters' Trust to help safeguard the cash-strapped club's future.

As revealed in later editions of Saturday's Evening Press, the public meeting will be held at the Tempest Anderson Hall, Museum Gardens, York, starting at 7.30pm.

It follows a meeting of supporters' representatives co-ordinated by the Evening Press before City's home game against Shrewsbury.

The current board have put the club up for sale and have announced they will step down at the end of the season. If no buyer can be found by that time the club will fold.

City fan Paul Rawnsley, an accountant who has specialist knowledge of football finances and works in the football industry, will chair the public meeting which is expected to last around an hour and a half.

He will outline the latest situation to supporters, including a brief financial summary of City's plight.

He said: "The Save City campaign requires the people and businesses of York to pull together.

"The public meeting to launch the idea of a Supporters' Trust is just the first stage towards its creation. A Save City Committee will be formed and everyone has the opportunity to contribute.

"A Supporters' Trust will provide the fans of York City the opportunity to own (in whole or in part) the club we all love and ensure it survives and prospers for the next generation."

Dave Boyle, research officer of Supporters' Direct, has been invited to attend to explain how a Supporters' Trust can be set up at York.

Supporters will then be asked to elect a Save City Committee. Nominations, which need to be seconded, will be taken on the night. People unable to make the meeting can still be nominated for the committee.

A representative of York City Supporters will also be on the main platform and will be selected on Wednesday.

YCSC press officer Robert Havercroft, who is also the matchday announcer, broadcast news of the public meeting to the 2,413 crowd at half-time on Saturday. He vowed that the Supporters Club would do everything in its power to keep the club alive and urged fans to attend next Monday's meeting.

They hope to have sufficient backing for a Supporters' Trust so that they can send in a letter of interest in running the club to the current board by noon on Thursday, January 17 - the deadline for interested parties to make contact with the club.

Updated: 11:22 Monday, December 31, 2001