A York City fans' group have announced a change of name and unveiled a blueprint for fans to take a £100,000 stake in the club.

BUSINESS PLAN: FACT spokesman Greg Stone

Copies of a business plan have been sent to City chairman Douglas Craig and his fellow directors, and FACT - previously known as Fans Against Craig's Tyranny - are now seeking talks with the Bootham Crescent board.

The club today said the proposals would be studied "in detail" but believed they were "commercially flawed".

FACT confirmed a change of name to Fans Assisting City Together as part of a new image which, according to spokesman Greg Stone, is a move away from a confrontational approach.

Recognising mistakes in the group's previous methods of protesting, Stone stressed the name change is designed to promote an "inclusive and progressive" way forward.

He added that the group was keen to work together with all fans as well as the board.

Following the Government's launch of the Supporters Direct scheme in January, which encourages fans to take an active role in the running of their clubs, FACT have now outlined plans to raise a fund of at least £100,000, which would be used to form a mutual society.

Stone said the Football Trust are expected to back the scheme, with legal and financial advice being provided by Cobbetts, a Manchester law firm, and the Co-operative Bank.

Under the FACT proposals, the money would be used to buy new shares in the club, which FACT claims has a theoretical share capital of £200,000.

Under the proposals, fans would be able to purchase "units" of between £50 and £2500 in the fund, which would then entitle them to vote for a "fan director" who would sit on the board.

Stone said similar arrangements had proved successful at Bournemouth and Northampton, and that Mansfield were expected to follow shortly.

Sophie McGill, City's public relations executive, said: "The proposal is based on a false premise; that the board and existing shareholders are not fans. That is not the case, they are devoted York City supporters, so there is existence of fans on the board.

"Obviously, the matter will be discussed in detail but first impressions suggest that the proposal is also commercially flawed."

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