York City supporters are to target the FA in a double-pronged attack to highlight the plight of the club.

MP Hugh Bayley has requested crunch talks with FA chief executive Adam Crozier to discuss the sale of the club.

Fans will march to the FA's headquarters in London on Saturday to present a petition, containing more than 3,000 signatures.

Writing to Mr Crozier, Mr Bayley reveals his concern at the decision to transfer assets from York City to Bootham Crescent Holdings, back in 1999, and the subsequent moves to sell the club.

His involvement was welcomed by the York City Supporters' Trust, which revealed it is still waiting for the FA to respond to a trust letter asking for help. Mr Bayley said: "I am writing to raise concern about the way in which the directors of York City appear to have circumvented the FA's rules, which I understand aim to protect football clubs from being asset-stripped.

"I recognise that York City Football Club is a business. However, it is a business that has had its assets built up by supporters over many years and I believe it is wrong for those assets to be taken away from a club."

"I hope the FA will look at their rules with a view to strengthening them to prevent their assets being hived off and sold in a property deal."

Meanwhile, trust members - who have gathered more than 3,000 names for their petition - revealed they are still waiting to hear whether FA representatives will be on hand to collect their petition.

Sophie McGill, trust spokeswoman, said: "The trust is delighted with the contribution Hugh Bayley has made so far to our campaign.

"We feel it is very important that the issue should be raised within the FA.

"We have had no assistance from the FA. They appear to have washed their hands of us. We are very disappointed about this. But we have got to commend Hugh Bayley for standing up to be counted and doing something constructive for the football club."

An FA spokesman said: "We would not comment on any private letters between one person and another. If there is to be a meeting, there will be a public announcement."

Updated: 11:38 Tuesday, February 19, 2002