CHAIRMAN Paul Rawnsley kicked-off last night's meeting with a passionate plea to supporters to look to the future and play their part in safeguarding the club.
Rawnsley, a City fan who has specialist knowledge of football finances through his work in the football industry, said: "York City Football Club has been around for 80 years.
"We must not let the club die and we must do everything we can to ensure the club survives for future generations.
"We have more than 100 people locked outside which I think demonstrates the commitment and passion for our club and that we will not let York City die.
"We urge everyone to focus on securing the future of this special football club playing in the Football League.
"Who ever takes over York City Football Club will have a difficult job to do.
"The owner maybe a Supporters' Trust or it maybe someone else.
"Whatever, the Supporters' Trust will have role to play in the future running of the club.
"A new owner offers a fresh start and an opportunity to rebuild the relationship between the club and the fans, those fans who actually turn up to attend the games and those fans who used to come along but, for whatever reason, do not attend anymore.
"We also need to restore the relationship between the club and the wider community of York and the surrounding area, the club and local businesses and also the council and other institutions."
Appealing for calm amid the uncertainty surrounding the club's future, Rawnsley added: "A lot of people are angry, frustrated and, in some respects, suspicious of the current situation.
"We again appeal to everyone to focus on working positively for the future.
"Do not dwell in the past.
"Everything that has happened in the past we can learn from."
Rawnsley spelt out the grim financial reality currently facing the club and any potential new owners.
He said he expected the current ratio between the club's wages and income to be "unseen before by any professional English football club".
"At times, we as fans have accused the board of lacking ambition or not spending money, but they have certainly done that (on wages) in the last few seasons," he said.
Rawnsley said if a Supporters Trust was established unless fundraising could make up the losses a number of measures would have to be considered to help eradicate the shortfall.
"That won't be easy and in some ways it will be quite unpleasant," he said.
Updated: 09:32 Tuesday, January 08, 2002
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article