THE York City Supporters' Trust is continuing its fight to safeguard professional football in York and is now stepping up its fund-raising efforts, writes Dave Stanford.

The Trust have this week abided by a request from the insolvency practitioners to refrain from making statements in the media while they try to resolve the club's financial problems.

However, and despite the enforced media-blackout, the Trust today confirmed it has continued to meet with 'various important parties' over the last seven days as part of its campaign.

The Trust also revealed it has not met with chairman John Batchelor since before last month's FA Cup match with Swansea.

Sophie McGill, of the Trust, said: "The events of recent weeks have only hardened the Trust's resolve to deliver a community club that the people of York can be proud of.

"The Trust has the best interests of the supporters and the community at its heart and we will continue to conduct ourselves with honesty and integrity."

While the insolvency practitioners continue to cast their eye over City's financial accounts, the Trust are now putting fundraising plans in place.

The Trust said a number of fund-raising ideas put forward by fans were now in action or in the pipeline.

At tomorrow's FA Cup clash with Brentford, supporter groups The Friends of Bootham Crescent and the Harrogate Minstermen are organising another bucket collection in support of the Trust.

Harrogate Minstermen spokesman Stephen Gartside said: "We salute the tremendous amount of work that is being put in by the Trust as they strive to secure the future of our football club.

"As such we are both proud and honoured to offer our help in any way we can, hopefully relieving a little of their workload in the process."

The cash crisis currently being suffered by City has now spread to Port Vale with the Second Division outfit applying to go into voluntary administration.

Vale, reported to be £2.4million in debt, petitioned the High Court after two of their largest creditors called for a winding-up of the company.

A hearing will be held on Monday, December 16 unless a solution to the club's problems can be found before that date.

Bradford City's players have agreed to defer a percentage of their wages until next July.

The First Division strugglers failed to pay their players last week after a major creditor rejected refinancing proposals.

Updated: 12:43 Friday, December 06, 2002