York City are eagerly watching a game of transfer cat-and-mouse which could earn them thousands of pounds.

Former Minsterman Jon Parkin has become an unwitting pawn in a transfer battle between Macclesfield Town and Lincoln City, with York City set to gain from a cut of the proceeds.

Star Silkmen striker Parkin is the prime target for a cash move away from Moss Rose to help generate the money needed for a £257,000 Football Foundation fine that must be paid by Macclesfield by the end of this month.

But while shifting a huge percentage of the bill for his current club, the sale will also benefit York thanks to a sell-on clause written into the deal that took him away from Bootham Crescent on a free transfer in February 2004.

Sources in Macclesfield say that the sell-on clause is rumoured to be as high as 35 per cent.

However, City have only confirmed that their slice is "reasonable".

Macclesfield are reluctant to sell but know Parkin represents their most saleable asset and could ultimately save the club even with the undisclosed sell-on percentage to York taken into account.

Lincoln City came in with an impish bid a third of the £100,000 Macclesfield are thought to want for their crown jewel and it is rumoured that a deal between the two clubs had been struck bar the personal terms.

But with the shock suspension of Lincoln manager Keith Alexander and Gary Simpson just hours before kick off on New Year's Eve, the whole deal is back up in the air.

And in the latest twist, Macclesfield chairman Rob Bickerton is now saying Parkin is not for sale after all.

However, some observers believe that 'hands-off' ploy may be to help hike up the player's value, especially as fellow League Two rivals Chester have reportedly also joined in the bidding for the Silkmen's striker.

Parkin, who also played in defence for the Minstermen, would make the ideal strike partner at Lincoln for Simon Yeo, who has recently returned to England after playing with New Zealand Knights.

Alexander had wanted Parkin and Yeo to form his new spearhead and improve Lincoln's strike ratio.

Parkin added yet more to his value in an impressive display in Macclesfield's 5-4 thriller against Wycombe Wanderers on Saturday.

His late brace sealed victory after his side trailed 4-3 from initially leading 3-0. Parkin's contribution earned him considerable praise that can only bolster the price tag on his head.

Wanderers boss John Gorman, the former assistant to Glenn Hoddle with England, said: "He's an absolute mountain of a man, the best in his position in the division."

Updated: 10:02 Wednesday, January 04, 2006