Batchelor must expect 'stick'

The former Minstermen chairman may be adverse to negative publicity, but when you tear up a football club's 25-year lease at its home ground you must expect a certain amount of flak and stick.

Batchelor might feel reluctant and slightly aggrieved to accept criticism for his latest news-making actions after his voluntary offer to pay money to the club, which was part of an agreement crucial to the club coming out of administration and is understood to be based on accepting liability for credit card payments made by supporters for season tickets if the club were unable to fulfil all their 2003/2004 fixtures.

That, of course, is no longer a concern but an agreement is an agreement and Batchelor must recognise that the club are only still in existence because of the efforts of Minstermen fans.

The money Batchelor had promised as part of the agreement, believed to be in the region of £8,000 a month from January to May, could, no doubt, have been used to secure the services of the proven 20-goal-a-season striker manager Chris Brass has lacked the funds to attract to the club during the vital second half of this campaign.

BACK on the pitch, most struggling Third Division managers have set their sides a survival target of 50 points this season and, if history counts for anything, that magical mark would appear sufficient to safeguard a club's Football League status.

Not once in the last eight seasons has a club that has accumulated half-a-century of points finished in the bottom two of a 24-team Third Division.

And that means a victory against Macclesfield tomorrow would leave Chris Brass' Minstermen needing a win and two draws from their remaining seven games to secure safety, especially with an inferior goal difference to all their relegation rivals bar Carlisle.

The Cumbrians, incidentally, hold the record for the highest number of points for a side finishing second bottom in the last eight seasons.

They reached 49 in 1998/99 - a season in which City's North Yorkshire rivals Scarborough were unfortunate to be relegated not only because of Jimmy Glass' famous last-gasp goal but also because they had racked up 48 points which, in four of the last eight seasons would have been enough to ensure the Seadogs finished outside the bottom three places of the Football League.

And in three of the last eight seasons (1995/96, 1997/98 and 1999/2000), City's current tally of 42 points would have already preserved the club's 82-year Football League existence.

Here are the respective records of the 23rd-placed Division Three side in each of the last eight years: Exeter City points 48, goal difference -14 (2003); Bristol Rovers points 45, goal difference -20 (2002); Halifax Town points 47, goal difference -14 (2001); Carlisle United points 39, goal difference -33 (2000); Carlisle United points 49, goal difference -10 (1999); Brighton points 35, goal difference -28 (1998); Brighton points 47, goal difference -17 (1997); Scarborough points 40, goal difference -30 (1996).

ATTENTIONS at City might now have switched to the bottom of the Third Division table but the top three placings could also be significant to the Bootham Crescent club's off-field fortunes next season.

Providing City are successful in their bid to avoid the drop to the Nationwide Conference, they could be deprived of their biggest three money-spinning fixtures from this season.

Neighbours Doncaster Rovers, Hull City and Huddersfield Town have been responsible for the three highest attendances at York but currently occupy the top automatic promotion positions and look destined for Division Two football.

MEANWHILE, City fans who have sympathy for the off-field plight of troubled neighbours Darlington can add their weight to a petition against their treatment being sent to the Football League.

Darlington supporters would like as many football fans as possible to sign their on-line petition, which can be found at www.petitiononline.com

CITY followers will also be helping their club's own Supporters' Trust by buying the latest edition of City fanzine Ginner's Left Foot, which will go on sale at tomorrow's home game against Macclesfield.

At 40 pages, it's the biggest yet, and is specially dedicated to supporters' views on staying at Bootham Crescent, as well as celebrating the 20th anniversary of the 1983/84 Championship-winning side.

Part of the fanzine has been printed in colour and will feature pictures submitted by fans.

The price, therefore, has been increased to £2 for this issue but a donation to the Supporters' Trust will still be made if sales go well.

City fans who are the centre of attraction

AS a countdown to the Fans' Match at Bootham Crescent on Sunday, May 9, which will also raise funds for the Trust, players that have successfully bid for home and away shirts to play in the game will fall under our spotlight in the coming weeks.

Here are the first four: Alex Bedingham (home shirt number 10) - Alex was the nine-year-old mascot for City during their 1993 trip to Wembley. But he is now a 20-year-old striker in the mould of City 'legend' Alex Mathie and will be on loan from the Yorkie Bars for the Fans' Match.

His famous January detox did wonders for his fitness but his infamous 'CC Diet' (Carling & Curry) ever since may dampen his performance today. He has earned the nickname 'Ronaldo' from the Harrogate Minstermen, presumably strictly based on his physical appearance rather than his footballing ability!

Ian Surgeoner (home shirt number 1) - York-born Ian is 36. He grew up in Chelmsford, Essex until 1990 when he moved to Dudley, West Midlands.

His first City game was against Crystal Palace in the FA Cup third round and, in 2003 he moved back to York, where he works as a telemarketing agent.

Neil Hunter (home shirt number 11) - Neil has been playing football since the age of six firstly for Holme Rovers, then Howden and he currently plays for Stamford Bridge under 16s. His favourite all-time City player - Wayne 'Ginner' Hall and his current favourite is Darren Dunning.

Neil will be playing alongside his brother Paul in the game and was delighted to hear that City will be staying where they belong - Bootham Crecscent.

Nick Gonsalves (home shirt number 5) - Nick has been going down 'The Crescent' for 30 years through thick and thin and anorexic! He names his heroes as John Byrne, John McPhail and, of course, Keith Walwyn.

He has played local football for many years, including spells with Low Moor, Ashton Villa, Knavesmire and Crystal Palace (the pub!). Nick is looking forward to a great day and will probably hang his boots up after the match.

About his possible retirement, he said: "What a way to go although you never know, I might be playing so well Chris may offer me a contract for next season!"

Dunning in control

DARREN Dunning's lead at the top of the Evening Press Player of the Year standings appears to be virtually unassailable after he picked up another three points at Bristol Rovers.

Midfielder Dunning was the pick of a poor display at the Memorial Ground and has now moved 11 points clear of nearest rival Mark Ovendale, whose challenge has recently been halted by a spell on the bench.

Richard Hope moved up to joint-fourth place with two points in Bristol and on-loan Newcastle striker Richard Offiong picked up his first point.

Only Dunning, Ovendale, Hope and Nogan now have a mathematical chance of winning this season's award with Lee Bullock on loan at Cardiff until the end of the season.

Standings: Dunning 37 points, Ovendale 26, Bullock 24, Hope 22, Nogan 22, Merris 11, Ward 11, Cooper 10, Wood 10, Smith 10, Wise 10, Edmondson 9, Brass 8, Bell 6, Davies 6, Parkin 5, Walker 5, Yalcin 2, Brackstone 1, Fox 1, George 1, Offiong 1, Shaw 1, Wilford 1.

Five to follow

York City's home form would appear to hold the key to Third Division survival with four out of the next five matches taking place at Bootham Crescent. Here are the details: Tomorrow (Sunday, April 4) - Macclesfield Town (H); Friday, April 9 - Cambridge United (A); Tuesday, April 13 - Bury (H); Saturday, April 17 -- Cheltenham Town (H); Tuesday, April 20 - Yeovil Town (H).

Updated: 10:22 Saturday, April 03, 2004