£4million price tag

From left to right manager Alan Little, director John Quickfall, chairman Douglas Craig, director Colin Webb, Malcolm Huntington, who chaired the meeting, and club secretary Keith Usher

The substantial valuation was put on the troubled club by the City chairman at last night's first fans' forum.

Craig explained to the feisty meeting of close on 200 supporters at Queen Anne's School that it was not his intention to sell.

But in response to a question on how much the club would pay out for players he insisted the board would gladly accept a viable cheque or banker's draft for between £3million and £4million.

Later during the two-hour meeting the City leader also believed no-one would be 'daft enough' to stump up such a cash figure for the Bootham Crescent club.

The cash valuation on City sprang from supporter Julie Laycock's inquiry about whether there was a limit on future transfer fees that City would pay.

Craig cited fees of between £100,000 and £150,000 as the maximum, explaining that the problem now under the Bosman ruling was not just transfer fees but in wages to be paid to new recruits.

The supporter said should she win the Lottery she would buy out the club.

Craig countered immediately: "If there's anyone in the room here tonight who is prepared to give a non-bouncing cheque of the value of York City FC Limited between £3million and £4million then I can assure you the board will be happy to accept the offer."

The chairman stoutly defended the club's housekeeping, which he insisted, had ensured City's survival as one of 'just ten or so' Nationwide League clubs not threatened by harsh finances.

Asked what he got out of being chairman, Craig added: "I am sitting here because I was daft enough to put money into the club.

"But I have made you all an offer. Produce your money and I will go."

City had been turned around from having to beg their bank to increase their overdraft to wiping out that debt, getting promotion, reaching the play-offs and being in the Second Division as they are now for the longest spell in club history.

"But if somebody has a cheque or a group has a cheque or produce a bankers draft for the true value of the club then they can have it.

"The total value of the club is between £3million and £4million and I happen to believe it's come about because of the good management of the board of directors.

"I don't want to sell the club. And I don't believe there's anybody out there who is daft enough to want to buy a football club."

Another fan, Ian Campbell, wondered whether the club would benefit from a new share issue. When Craig spurned the suggestion Campbell asked how could the club then advance.

Added the City chairman: "It's by judicious activities in the transfer market.

"The gate money from games produces less than half the wage bill. Clubs in our position can only continue to exist if we develop a proper and prosperous youth policy and sell on the best boys we can develop to get some money in.

"Football in the Nationwide League is in desperate straits. Only about ten clubs are viable and a significant number of clubs would give their right hand to have the record we have had these last few years at York City."

Appeal to swell club's coffers

BUSINESSMAN Gerry Davitt launched an appeal for a keener commercial edge to York City.

One of several new shareholders at the club, Davitt said City could do much more to capitalise on swelling income.

He said City were a credit in competing against and sometimes beating Division Two rivals bankrolled by huge resources.

But added Davitt, a lifelong City supporter: "Football is a business and I think that we have to get the commercial activity better at the club to get Alan Little more resources and a chance to pay players that little bit more money.

"It would be pointless for us as a team to go up and come straight back down."

He cited recent schemes at Watford where 7,000 tickets were given away to schoolchildren to help boost match-day attendance and wondered whether Friday night fixtures might serve City better at home to enable the large numbers of Saturday afternoon footballers in local leagues to see City.

"We've all got to strive to raise more money commercially. We have a social club but it's only open on match days. Let's get a big screen in and raise more cash.

"The team has done well considering the other clubs who have got mega-bucks behind them and Mr Craig has mentioned clubs like Oxford, Lincoln, Chester and Hull, who are basically in the mire. We don't want to go down that road.

"But what about clubs like Norwich, Bradford City and Bury. They are cities no bigger than us. If they can do it, then we can damned well do it if we give it a go."

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.