FORMER York City director Mike Brown has suggested ticket prices could be increased at Bootham Crescent and the playing budget reduced to help ensure the club operates on a breakeven basis next season.

City chairman Jason McGill has indicated that he will cease to cover losses at Bootham Crescent should Supporters Trust members vote against the Golden Share Proposal to make his company JM Packaging the club’s 100 per cent owners at Thursday’s special general meeting.

Brown, meanwhile, believes the Minstermen should be kept in the black during the 2018/19 season – the club’s last campaign before relocation to Monks Cross – regardless of the result from the Millthorpe School poll.

The City fan of 38 years also wants a review of all the club’s overheads, an auction of surplus fixtures and fittings at Bootham Crescent and a Trust donation facility on turnstiles and catering outlets at the ground to help provide financial sustainability.

Brown, a previous Trust board member who has recently returned to help the current committee during the shares issue, said: “Irrespective of the outcome of the vote, I would encourage Jason McGill to review all available options to achieve a breakeven budget next season.

“Regardless of recent events, it is neither healthy or sustainable for the football club to continue losing money or to rely on loans from the chairman’s business to meet the shortfall. The club’s back-to-back relegations and recent performances demonstrate that it’s an entirely false economy to ‘budget for promotion’.

“It’s self-evident that this strategy hasn’t worked. I believe it’s time to return to a more prudent model that allows the club to operate within its own means.

“Given that the historic losses are now entrenched in the business, I recognise the challenges of immediately switching to a breakeven budget and the associated cashflow pressures it presents. There are clear solutions that will enable the club to operate at breakeven without the need to go part-time.”

Addressing a possible wage-bill reduction, Brown added that the playing budget at fourth-placed promotion hopefuls City could be reviewed in consideration of those set by “more successful clubs in National League North this season.”

On a potential price hike through the turnstiles, Brown suggested: “Temporarily increasing ticket prices/season tickets by an average of £2 per home game would increase revenues by £125,000.

“Whilst I fully recognise the ‘supply and demand’ effect of suggested price increases, given the circumstances I’m sure most fans could stomach the additional £50 for one season. It’s a small price to pay for the stability of the club.”

On the overall impact of all his recommendations, Brown reckoned: “Cumulatively, such measures would be likely to meet the average losses of the club over the past few seasons, removing the need for any further advances from JM Packaging.”