THE reverberations from last week's shock announcement that York City Football Club is up for sale are still being felt.

The dust is taking time to settle and at this moment there still seem to be more questions than answers.

Through the haze and amid all the confusion, one of the most puzzling issues for fans to grasp is the relationship between Bootham Crescent Holdings and York City FC.

Perhaps the most succinct explanation has come from Josh Easby, editor of the 'There's Only One Arthur Bottom" newsletter and club director.

Easby explained: "BC Holdings owns the club and assets such as the grounds. No one owns the staff but they are employed by the club which has been put up for sale.

"Think of BC Holdings as the owner of a building in which there is a tenant business, also owned by the building owner.

"The tenant business is not paying its way so the building owner has offered the business to anyone capable of turning it into a viable venture.

"That does not preclude someone making an offer for the tenant business and the building as a package, or seeking other options which are suitable to all parties."

IT is perhaps also pertinent to explain why and when Bootham Crescent Holdings came about.

The Evening Press carried the news in July 1999 that the City board were to ask shareholders to support the move to reorganise the club's assets in order to safeguard them.

Directors were concerned about a clause in Football Association rules which would force the club to give up any surplus assets, like Bootham Crescent and the Wigginton road training complex, if it ever found itself in liquidation.

The provision in the FA rules required all clubs to pay over any surplus assets to the FA Benevolent Fund or to a similar organisation in such an event.

To keep those assets protected, the City board recommended the formation of a new company, called Bootham Crescent Holdings Plc, which made an offer to acquire all the shares in York City.

Each shareholder in York City would become the owner of exactly the same number of shares in BCH as they owned in City, who would then become a wholly-owned subsidiary of BCH.

The offer was posted to shareholders who had 21 days to make a decision.

In August 1999, BCH announced the offer was accepted by the holders of more than 146,700 of the total 150,000 shares.

Although, outwardly it was business as usual, the ground, training ground and certain other properties were then transferred to the new parent company, BCH. The FA registration and player contracts remained with YCFC.

A new date for the postponed Boxing Day clash with Hull City will not be announced in the immediate future.

City's involvement in the FA Cup and The Tigers' run in the LDV Vans Trophy is preventing an early announcement regarding a new date. Under Football League regulations, the game has to be played as soon as possible but potential dates in January may be filled with Cup matches.

The first midweek date on January 8 is unavailable because Hull are playing Huddersfield Town in the LDV, whereas January 15 could be an FA Cup replay for City against Grimsby Town.

On the 22nd, City are at home to Rochdale, whereas the 29th is earmarked for the next round of the LDV.

Should Hull be knocked out by Huddersfield, January 29 could well be the day for the re-arranged fixture.

If this date is ruled out, City may end up playing every midweek in February with February 12 another provisional date for the fixture.

City also play Rochdale (a), Leyton Orient (a), and Carlisle United (h) on Tuesdays in the same month.

Meanwhile, and contrary to reports elsewhere, the City ticket office have confirmed that refunds ARE available for those fans who cannot make it to the game when it is eventually played.

Fans can reclaim their money by calling in person to Bootham Crescent during normal office hours, or phoning 01904 624447 ext 1.