YORK City Supporters’ Trust chairman John Lacy has voiced his “deep regret” at the resignation of board members Roy Clarkson and Simon Pickering.

Clarkson and Pickering stepped down from their roles after little more than two months, stating that they wanted to distance themselves from the Trust and make a “total disconnection” from the club’s 25 per cent shareholders.

But Lacy has expressed his disappointment at the pair’s assertion in a joint statement that they had “no confidence” in the board’s resources and expertise.

The Trust chairman said: “I would like to thank Roy Clarkson and Simon Pickering for their 'comprehensive forward strategy' for the Trust, which they drafted only as recently as July 7. This plan was welcomed and supported by the entire Trust board and immediately presented at a meeting with the club chairman as a blueprint for supporting and working together with Jason McGill and the football club.

“We have barely begun the work involved. Roy and Simon's ideas are inspiring, challenging and ambitious and I believed these two colleagues had the ability, experience and commitment to take a lead in moving the Trust forward. We have already made a start with Roy's recommended "Re-Launch" and we shall continue as best we can to put their proposals into action.

“I, therefore, deeply regret that Roy and Simon have quit so very near the beginning of this excellent, but long-term, piece of work when they had the full backing from all of us. I know that my colleagues on the board are disappointed and discouraged by Simon and Roy's assertion that their efforts have been "wasted energy" and that they have "no confidence" in the board's resources and expertise.”

Lacy remains committed to reinvigorating the Trust after several years of stagnation and added: “I have spoken very many times since I took over as chairman of the Trust about our need for expertise, experience and commitment on the board. We must have this new blood to help us become the "active force driving for the success of the football club’s future", which Roy and Simon call for.

“I think we are beginning to find such commitment and ability on our newly-elected board - but we still need more! I don't see how Roy Clarkson's and Simon Pickering's early exit from the struggle helps us achieve anything other than a weakening of the voice and influence of York City fans in the life of our football club. And, as Roy and Simon also make clear, this is a "testing time for the club" and its supporters.”