Trust: York City chairman has no provision to withdraw offer to sell

Henderson told BBC Radio York today that he had "rescinded his offer", which was made public last week, to sell his majority shareholding back to the Trust, who own the remaining 49 per cent of the club.

The chairman claimed that, while ill, he wrote an email to the Trust saying "Just give me my money back". He described this as a "weak glimpse of a moment" and now says he has "rescinded" this offer.

The Trust have responded by stating that Henderson has offered his shares in communications with three Trust directors on five separate occasions since late November.

Henderson is quoted by the Trust as writing in emails: "My offer is on the table. The amount of money I put in is the amount I want out so let the Trust know. I feel this would be in the best interest of the club.”

The Trust board then voted unanimously in favour of parting company with Henderson and seeking fresh investment.

At present, the Trust say they have a 28-day period to consider Henderson's offer to sell, under a legally binding shareholders' agreement, the deadline for a response coming on Saturday, January 7.

They argue that Henderson has "no provision to withdraw his offer" during this time and say that they will "vigorously defend" their "legal rights and uphold" their "constitutional and moral obligations on behalf of" their "members and all York City fans".

"Henderson has lost the confidence of the Trust board and we believe that his latest U-turn only goes to undermine his position even further," a withering Trust statement read.

Moving forward, the Trust have reported that a "number of credible expressions of interest from prospective investors" have been received.

They have assured potential investors that the process "will continue unabated" despite Henderson's comments.

“We are now in the initial stages of a scrutiny and due diligence process that will ultimately lead to a vote of our members at a special general meeting," the Trust said.