AN implied lack of trust from the York City Supporters' Trust board was the final straw for Steve Ovenden after months of frustration.

After Mike Grant blew the whistle on possible Trust takeover negotiations with JM Packaging, a vote was taken on whether to suspend him.

Both Ovenden and wife Kirsten voted against the proposal but accepted the decision.

Both were then asked to explain their reasons for voting against and, when they refused, were told they could no longer be trusted. They resigned the next day.

"It was very much the final straw to have people I have worked with all that time suggesting they couldn't trust us," said Ovenden, who is probably best known as club mascot Yorkie the Lion.

But there were other reasons.

Ovenden said: "Primarily, I did not share the confidence of other Trust board members in the club board.

"I was frustrated at the lack of answers to key questions that were forwarded by the Trust board representatives on the club board.

"We weren't getting any answers and there was an apparent unwillingness to act in accordance with the club's wishes regarding things like the chairmanship and parity issues.

"I felt that the current crisis could have been avoided - I don't feel the Trust need to consider sacrificing control to one individual and run the potential risk of similar circumstances of three years ago.

"Finally - as has already been highlighted - there appears to be a number of potential conflicts of interest which is not satisfactory. It was difficult to know which hats people were wearing."

The departure of the pair leaves the board with just six active members after Grant's suspension and subsequent resignation.

The Trust are appealing for more volunteers to step forward and despite his experience, Ovenden hopes others will not be put off.

"Everybody (on the board) needs to take a look at themselves," he said. "I share some of Mike Grant's feelings that in a lot of ways, we have let the members down. I think it needs maybe new people in to look at matters afresh.

"At the end of the day, to be on a Trust board, you have got to be trying to act in the best interests of the club. I think the best interests of the club are best served by it being in the board's hands and not one individual. It's sad that a minority shareholder has had so much control."

Ovenden has been involved in the Trust from day one and has organised events that have raised more than £70,000 for the club.

Updated: 11:06 Saturday, April 22, 2006