York City chairman Douglas Craig has dismissed suggestions the Minstermen have become a 'feeder club' to Premiership big guns Sunderland.

As revealed in the Evening Press last week, City and their Third Division rivals Hull City have forged a unique agreement with the Black Cats that will see Sunderland provide loan players to their smaller neighbours.

Despite the deal not contravening Football League regulations, some fans writing on City-related web sites have voiced concern that the partnership is too close to a 'feeder club' system for comfort.

However, Craig insists City have nothing to lose and everything to gain from the agreement, which was instigated by Sunderland.

It will not mean City restricting their choice to Sunderland personnel should they need to recruit loan players, he explained.

Nor will City's brightest talents be automatically snapped up by Sunderland should they be made available.

"Obviously there will be somewhat more liaison between Sunderland and York City than would be the norm," said Craig.

"It will be a closer kind of relationship, with a degree of preferential treatment. But it is nowhere near the suggested 'feeder club' scenario.

"It really is a question of we cannot do anything but benefit - there is no downside to it."

The City chairman added: "The position is that Sunderland have young players who are not getting enough games - that is what the business is about.

"The reserve games do not provide the cutting edge and, in any case some, of them are not getting regular reserve games.

"In the current climate being able to get a good player on our books for a year is helpful to smaller clubs and helpful to the big clubs, giving their young players a chance to develop."

Last season four of Sunderland's young stars made their Premiership debuts, including striker Kevin Kyle who spent a part of the term on loan at Darlington.

The Black Cats' reserve team, which finished second in the Premier Reserve League last season, is bossed by former City legend and head of youth development at Bootham Crescent Ricky Sbragia.

England Under-21 international Darren Williams transferred from City to The Stadium of Light in 1997, while former City skipper Steve Agnew made the journey in the opposite direction the following year.

Updated: 11:39 Wednesday, June 06, 2001