THE administrator running York City warned against complacency today after the cash-strapped club was given a temporary stay of execution.

As reported on our website - www.thisisyork.co.uk - the Minstermen were yesterday handed a dramatic 11th hour reprieve after a mystery benefactor stumped up the cash to keep the club running for another seven days.

An undisclosed third party made the cash pledge which will enable take-over talks to buy the club to continue.

Administrator David Willis said no conditions were attached to the cash offer, which can be estimated at between £20,000-£30,000, but all other details about the individual would be kept under wraps.

He was unable to say whether the person was linked to any of the parties interested in buying the club.

Willis said: "We are delighted because it gives us another week."

However, he insisted time was still of the essence if a deal is to be done that will save the club from oblivion.

Willis said a deal could "potentially" be done in seven days.

More realistically, the reprieve will enable negotiations to buy the club to advance to such an extent a would-be purchaser would then be willing to stump up their own money to keep the club afloat while a deal is finalised.

"In order to exit administration we have to use a companies' voluntary arrangement and that will take more than a week but this offer gives us more time to do the deal," explained Willis.

"Funding is obviously the critical issue and until an interested party is confident that they have a deal they are not keen to put in money they might lose.

"They are more likely to give their own money to fund the club if they are happy that their deal will be completed."

He warned: "There is still a lot of hard work to do and this does not mean the club is saved by any means."

Meanwhile, York City Supporters' Trust, whose initial £92,000 baled out the club, today insisted their bid was realistic.

Said Trust representative Paul Rawnsley: "We remain confident that the Trust's solution is one of enormous benefit, not only to the creditors, but also, to the players, the staff and the supporters of York City Football Club.

"It is now hoped that the administrator will properly focus on the Trust's offer, such that significant progress can be made over the next week.

"The Trust's offer is one of substance.

"We have the resources and commitment to see it through and make it happen."

As the make-or-break deadline now shifts to the home game with Bury a week today, Rawnsley added: "Please support the Trust to save York City."

Updated: 09:31 Saturday, February 15, 2003