CHAIRMAN John Lacy has admitted that York City Supporters’ Trust’s very existence is under threat unless new board members are attracted in the next two months.

The Trust have scheduled an election night for Monday, June 5 at their special general meeting in Bootham Crescent’s 1922 Bar but, as yet, no nomination forms have been returned for potential candidates to assist the current board of Lacy, Bill Owens, Martyn Jones, Richard Bower and Sarah Stelling.

Owens and Jones currently work on membership matters, Bower oversees the website and finances and Stelling is assigned with fundraising duties with Lacy fearing that, if more people are not elected, there could be grave consequences for the Trust’s future.

Nomination forms can be downloaded from the Trust’s website at ycst.org.uk or by emailing info@ycst.org.uk and need to be returned by Monday, May 8.

A maximum of 12 board members is permitted with the chairman reasoning that a ten-strong committee would represent an ideal working number.

Delivering his plea for candidates, Lacy said: “I don’t think it’s over-dramatic to say that, if we don’t get more bodies on the board or people who can volunteer and help fundraising, the Trust will struggle to survive.

“We’re desperately in need of a few bodies on the board and want to encourage people to come forward and help us. We’re in a stronger position than we were this time last year when we were down to two or three people, but there’s still a hell of a lot of work to do and we need people to do that.

“Ideally, we’d like somebody with a background in accountancy to look after finances. We also need somebody with legal skills if, or when, we get to the point of negotiating with the club in terms of the Trust’s 25 per cent shareholding.

“Ultimately, we need people who are willing and have the energy to do the bags and bags of work that is needed. It’s also a great opportunity to feel you are doing something for York City, as well as dealing with the movers and shakers at the club and making new friendships with fellow fans.”

The Trust recently held an open meeting at Burton Stone Lane WMC, hosted by BBC Look North’s Phil Bodmer and, whilst a turnout of approximately 40 people was a “bit disappointing” in Lacy’s view, 50 new Trust members – some life members at a cost of £100 - have been recruited over the last ten months after two years of inertia when there was not a single addition to numbers.

City’s Trust retain a 25 per cent shareholding in the club, as per the 2006 agreement, which saw the body’s membership vote to handover majority ownership to club chairman Jason McGill’s Malton-based JM Packaging business.

With the parent company having far exceeded its contractual financial obligation to cover club losses, as per the terms of the deal struck 11 years ago, the Trust were asked to assist with that burden last summer or, otherwise, consider a dilution of their shareholding.

Any decision in that respect would require a membership vote, under the Trust constitution, while the key factor of the 2006 deal was protection of the Bootham Crescent ground and prevention of its sale until the club have relocated to a new venue.

With a brick still to be laid at Monks Cross, or a building contractor even appointed, that remains a concern for McGill and City fans alike, with the fulfilment of the community stadium project the only way, under the current JM Packaging/Trust agreement, that the City owner can recoup the vast seven-figure sum his company have pumped in to cover the club’s losses during the interminable relocation process.

Lacy, meanwhile, would like any potential changes to that ownership partnership to retain the Trust’s right to representation on the club board – something that hasn’t been exercised for several years.

He added: “It’s all been quite quiet on the shares issue during the season, but there have been approaches now to hold discussions. I am very sympathetic in terms of Jason’s financial commitment to the club, but we would need to know that it would benefit the club directly if the Trust were to consider transferring its shareholding.

“We’d also need to know how it would affect our legal right to have representation on the club board, although we appreciate anybody filling such positions would need to be able to dedicate a lot of time to that responsibility and have the trust of Jason.

“I’d like to make it clear that we know Jason is having to work very hard to make sure his business continues to thrive as, if it doesn’t, York City will be effected. He has also steadfastly continued to put large amounts of money into the club and stuck by it.”

The Trust are currently planning two fundraising events, with the first to be held at the Parvin Indian Restaurant in Haxby on July 24, where an auction will be held.

There are plans as well to stage a special showing of the Bafta-winning Marvellous film at a North Yorkshire venue to be decided later this year.

The movie tells the story of Stoke City supporter Neil Baldwin who overcomes personal barriers to convince then manager Lou Macari to give him a job as the club’s kit man and features Gary Lineker and Uriah Rennie.

Baldwin has agreed to attend the viewing, along with Malcolm Clarke – chairman of the Football Supporters’ Federation.