York City Supporters’ Trust have congratulated fan-owned AFC Wimbledon on their promotion to the Football League.

The Trust relinquished their three-year control of the Minstermen in 2006 following a members’ vote on current owners JM Packaging’s proposed takeover.

Having maintaining a 25 per cent share in City, the Trust believes, however, the Wombles’ Blue Square Bet Premier play-off final victory over Luton Town illustrates that the fan-owned model for football clubs remains a viable option.

Trust board member Kirsten Ovenden said: “We extend our warmest congratulations to our counterparts at AFC Wimbledon and wish them well for the future, which we hope will include playing York City in the Football League. Rising from the bottom of the football pyramid to the League in just nine years is a fantastic achievement and it is refreshing to see a Trust-owned club enjoying such success.

“It goes to show that clubs with active Trust involvement can and do prosper. Exeter City are another example where the model works well and at higher levels.”

Supporters Direct chief executive and Wimbledon fan Dave Boyle, meanwhile, is hoping City’s Trust’s attempts at reinvigorating themselves can help the Bootham Crescent club follow his side out of non-League football.

He said: “AFC Wimbledon will enter the Football League debt-free and fan-owned. Exeter City also show that League One is a legitimate and achievable goal for a fan-owned club and there’s every chance a domestic licensing system will be introduced in the next few years to eliminate the madness that turns football into a race to find the richest man you can to throw money at the players and hope he doesn’t want it back.

“York City had a few problems relating to the ground which were always a millstone around the Trust’s neck but I’d love to see the Minstermen back in the Football League alongside us and there’s no reason why they can’t do that with strong supporter involvement and ownership.”