WHISTLEBLOWER Mike Grant says a group of people willing to lend money to York City have contacted him since he went public about the club's finances.

Grant, who was suspended from the YC Trust Board as a result of leaking information to the Evening Press about a possible move by Malton-based JM Packaging to invest more money in the club in return for shares, has now resigned from the Board.

He said today: "Following on from the publication of the information I gave to the Evening Press, I have received several expressions of interest from people willing to lend money to York City Football Club at interest rates similar to those proposed, but without any requirement for the Trust to dilute its 85 per cent shareholding.

"I advised the Trust Board verbally of these during the meeting which culminated in my suspension on Sunday, April 9, and made a written proposal by e-mail the following Thursday.

"Due to the amount of investment involved and to enable the investment risk to be assessed, I have asked the Trust Board to provide me with certain information in relation to the business dealings of York City Football Club and permission to arrange for 'the books' to be independently inspected.

"I therefore felt duty-bound to tender my resignation from the Trust Board to avoid any accusation of conflict of interest."

In his resignation e-mail to Trust secretary Stan Collins, Grant said: "As you are aware, I have put a proposal to the Trust Board involving a group lending a sum of money to York City Football Club, but the Trust would retain its 85 per cent shareholding in the football club.

"Although I will not personally benefit financially in interest payments from the loan, the group I will be representing will, and in order for the proposal to be seriously considered, I feel duty-bound to tender my resignation from the Trust Board in order to avoid any potential conflict of interest."

Updated: 11:16 Saturday, April 22, 2006