OVERSEAS interest in taking over York City FC is growing, the Evening Press can reveal.

Prospective buyers based in Australia, South Africa and Malta, together with someone from this country, have all requested the club send them more information.

Douglas Craig, chairman of the troubled club, said that on the face of it the four approaches were sufficiently strong for each to be regarded as seriously interested parties.

He was unable to divulge further details but added that none were from parties who had expressed an interest in taking over the football club through the Evening Press.

Any groups or individuals interested in buying the club have until Thursday,January 17 to make contact with the board, who are to step down at the end of the season. If no buyer can be found the club will fold.

The directors of Bootham Crescent Holdings plc, which owns the football club, are putting the finishing touches to a document which will be sent to the quartet, probably next week.

The document, a prospectus of the club, outlines what any would-be purchaser would be required to do and will be sent out as and when bona fide parties make contact with the board before the deadline.

City supporters are hoping to band together under the Save City banner at apublic meeting at the Tempest Anderson Hall, Museum Gardens, York, on Monday(7.30pm) with a view to forming a Supporters Trust.

If the Trust idea gets the backing of fans and a Save City Committee is elected and expresses an interest in buying the club they should receive the document currently being drawn up by the board.

Craig said much of the information in the document answers many of the questions that the Evening Press had faxed him about the proposed sale and the relationship between the club and BCH.

"I won't duck any question, but at this stage I think it would be wrong of me to answer the questions posed by the Evening Press while the board are in the process of preparing the document. However, everything will become clear in due course," he said.

The Press had hoped to publish the question and answer session with Craigthis week ahead of Monday's meeting.

On the face of it the quicker the supporters can get on a proper organisedfooting the quicker they will receive answers from the board about the club's future.

In the meantime, the questions that many fans are asking will be published on Saturday as part of a special preview of Monday's crucial meeting.

Craig and the other directors are not expected to attend Monday's meeting which will focus on setting up a Supporters' Trust.

The hall has a capacity of 300 and entry will be on a first come, first served basis.

City of York Council have arranged for the free use of the hall after being approached by the Evening Press.

Updated: 09:06 Thursday, January 03, 2002