THREE different owners in nine months: these are turbulent times for York City. But we can take heart from two facts. Firstly, York people want their club to endure and prosper, as the outpouring of support for the Save City campaign proved.

Secondly, the Supporters' Trust forged out of that campaign has already established itself as an impressive and committed group. If the club is to be steered safely through the current crisis, it needs leadership, energy, passion and expertise: qualities that the Trust undoubtedly possess.

The Trust is set to take over York City from John Batchelor. Although Mr Batchelor found it easier to make promises than to deliver on them, he has made a vital contribution to York City. Without him, it would have ceased to exist.

Mr Batchelor re-energised a club that had been allowed to drift into the doldrums. Financial blows and a failure to break free of the old regime stalled the early momentum.

Twice now, former chairman Douglas Craig has issued an ultimatum on York City's future. He and his fellow Bootham Crescent Holdings directors own the ground and therefore all the cards; bizarrely, two of them are still on City's board.

So the Supporters' Trust have it all to do, and they will need help. The first business that ought to put a hand in its pocket is Persimmon.

The housing company is poised to build 93 homes on Bootham Crescent, giving rise to the perception that a York firm is prepared to discard the city's football club for the right return. But Persimmon could turn this public relations disaster around if it sponsored the club through its transitional period.

And the Trust deserves much greater help from the sport's governing bodies. There is still an ocean of money in football, but only a trickle reaches the likes of City.

Remember, the Football Association allowed its own rules to be bypassed when Bootham Crescent was separated from York City. As the FA helped to create this mess, it has a moral obligation to do all it can to aid the Trust's recovery plan.

Updated: 11:13 Wednesday, November 20, 2002