THE Supporters' Trust's take-over bid for York City was given fresh impetus today after 'positive' talks were held between the fans' body and the football authorities.

As reported in the Evening Press, the City Supporters' Trust yesterday met with representatives from the players' union, the Professional Footballers' Association, as part of their take-over bid.

Crucial discussions were also held with officials from Football League at meetings in Manchester.

Approval from the football authorities as to the Trust's plans for the Minstermen are vital if the fans' organisation's rescue package for City is to succeed.

No agreements were reached during yesterday's lengthy discussions and none were expected.

However, it was important the Trusts' plans, already agreed by the administrators running the club, were not rejected out of hand by the PFA or the League and indicates the fans' take-over remains on track.

A spokesman for the Trust described the meetings as 'useful and positive'.

He said: "The meetings covered both the process - what needs to be done from here to the completion of our bid - and the matters that need to be satisfied for the PFA and Football League.

"As previously stated, there remain significant matters that need to be resolved and further meetings with all the parties will take place in due course over the next couple of weeks."

Aside from having to balance the books, a major stumbling block for the Trust is likely to be the issue of where City will play their games next season.

Football League rules stipulate they can only give approval to a change of ownership of a club in or coming out of administration if there is a ten-year security of tenure at a football ground. City currently have no such security.

As reported in the Evening Press, a lease which would have kept the Minstermen playing at Bootham Crescent for the next 25 years was replaced in April 2002, with the agreement of former chairman John Batchelor, by a new deal that expires in June.

The Trust are understood to be in negotiations with Bootham Crescent Holdings, the ground's owners, to try and reach a solution although no agreement has yet been reached.

Updated: 10:27 Saturday, March 01, 2003