YORK City chairman Jason McGill has fielded questions in The Press’ festive fans’ forum on a series of topics including the community stadium and contingency plans for relegation.

No question was off limits for McGill and we would like to thank the club’s owner and our readers for taking part in this venture during the busy Christmas period.

In the second part, here are more of your questions and McGill's responses.

Ethan Carroll (12-year-old season ticket holder): The fans want to have safe standing at the new stadium. This works well in Europe. Why not York?

JM: Firstly, it’s great to see someone so young taking a positive interest in the club’s future. Thank you.

Safe standing is a difficult issue. I want to say it is something that makes a lot of sense to us all at the football club.

However, until Government changes current legislation, safe standing is not possible for the new stadium. Because of present regulations, Football Foundation criteria states that they will only provide grants for all seater stadia.

The £2 million funding from the Football Foundation we are due to receive is needed for the new community stadium project. I know many of our fans are lobbying Government and this is the correct route in order to see a positive change in the situation.

Graham Brown: This season, I have felt quite distant from the club. Is there anything you would plan/organise to make the fans feel closer to the club?

Is there also any way we can advertise more effectively to target the city’s student population in order to improve numbers in attendance?

JM: I’m really sorry you feel distant from the club this season. I do believe on-pitch performances play a part in this.

When the team is going through a tough period, we all tend to put our efforts into improving the situation and making changes. This is all time-consuming and perhaps we lose sight of our commitment to fan liaison, which is wrong.

A change in management never helps this situation. However, since the start of the season, we have had our annual family fun day at the club, we’ve had our Christmas Carol Service, the players and manager have attended supporter events and there has been an awful lot of activity from the York City Foundation.

We will aim to work on this in the New Year and I know Jackie is very keen for the players to do more in the community. In terms of our relationship with students, apart from offering discounted admission for students to games (£12 for the David Longhurst Stand), we have worked hard over the past few years to develop our relationship with the University of York St John.

We currently have six students working for us as match analysis interns and two students working with youth coaching. Two students have also worked with our physio department and lecturers from the university visit our youth team twice a week to improve strength and conditioning.

This enhanced relationship benefits both parties and, hopefully, will lead to more students watching matches here at Bootham Crescent. We are proud to have St John branding on our academy kits and appreciate the facilities they provide to our youth set-up for training.

Tony Johnson: What is the current situation with Reece Thompson? Will we see him play for York City again?

The club seems to have had a falling out with some ‘high-profile’ fans over the previous two or three seasons, mainly those responsible for displays and improving the atmosphere in the Longhurst Stand. Would you/the club like such displays to return and, if so, what is being done to encourage that?

Is there an intention to reduce the squad in January, specifically the players who are/have been transfer listed since the summer? Presumably this would be needed to free up funds for strengthening?

Realistically, when do you expect us to be in the new ground?

Did Jackie McManara apply for the vacant manager job? There is a rumour that he didn’t apply and that you phoned him to invite him.

Do you think the current preference to rely on a very young side is the answer in what is turning out to be a relegation battle, or would you prefer a few older heads on board?

JM: Reece has an illness and we are supporting him as much as possible. He is very talented and we hope to see him playing again at York City.

He’s a really lovely lad and I’m sure he appreciates the well wishes he has received from supporters.

I’m not aware of any fall outs with supporters, but will discuss this internally. Thanks for raising this.

Certain players will probably move on in January, but this has to be mutually agreed. The board has set aside funds for Jackie to strengthen the squad as an improvement in our League position is essential.

We expect to see some new faces soon. However, the Morecambe and Mansfield results have been encouraging and show we are moving in the right direction.

Senior Council officials have confirmed the new ground will be complete in April/May 2017 for York City to occupy for our pre-season schedule in July 2017.

Yes, Jackie did apply for the manager’s job and he was one of eight candidates we interviewed.

Jackie will be responsible for recruitment in the transfer window and I’m sure we’ll see some very capable players come to the Club regardless of age.

Martin Crudge: Will the club strive to bring supporters’ wishes to fruition at the new stadium by having a standing home section and also provide a club bar similar to the 1922 bar?

JM: I have tried to answer the question regarding standing and must emphasise the club would never object to this. With reference to a bar at the new ground, in the stadium plans there is the provision of a fan zone, which should be an exciting area for entertainment before, during and after the game.

More details will be announced by the City of York council soon.

Tim Smith: How confident are you that the community stadium will be delivered on time and when will we see the “final (delayed) designs” ?

Are you in regular contact with officials over the stadium?

Why are the club so poor & slow on social media?

Why can’t the club shop put prices on things?

The “mini season ticket” goes on sale quite late in the season - why can’t it go on sale earlier?

Why doesn’t the club have a supporter liaison officer?

How does Emile Sinclair get injured so much?

JM: Final designs should be made public in January/February 2016.

I didn’t know we were poor or slow on social media! Our media officer Niall Cope does a great job and performs the role on his own, but we’ll take a look at this.

The club shop is not operated by the club itself, it is run by Just Sport. We will make them aware of this.

We don’t wish to put the mini season ticket on sale too early as we want to encourage supporters to commit to a full season ticket. We feel December works well, as they are often purchased as Christmas gifts.

We would all like Emile to be fit as much as possible.

Glyn Munday: I seem to recall an article stating that City would have control of the stadium income streams for a period of 13 years. What happens after this cut-off point?

City will lose their asset (ownership of Bootham Crescent) and will become tenants in the new stadium paying rent to the council. Is there a buy-back clause/option as part of the deal to enable the club to become owners once more?

Can we have regular updates on the activity of the new stadium construction works?

JM: The club will have a 99-year lease in the new stadium and will have access to match-day income during this period. The 13-year agreement relates to the stadium management company, which we will operate alongside GLL.

This opportunity offers access to non-match day income. The standard match-day income streams are an improvement on our current situation at Bootham Crescent.

The stadium will be owned by the City of York Council. I think this is a positive as the ground will be secured for future generations. It protects the club from predatory asset strippers.

Thanks for the suggestion. It is something we are planning once building progresses a bit further.

Alan Shuttleworth: What lessons have the board learned over the last couple of seasons in terms of research into prospective signings in terms of their ability. character and fitness records?

JM: As a board, we take a hands-off approach to football matters. However, I agree that recruitment has not been good enough.

We are always aware of the players a manager is considering to bring in, but really only get involved in the contract negotiations rather than identification. On the basis that we felt an improvement was essential in this area, this was one of the reasons for appointing Jackie as he has a good track record regarding recruitment. It really is everything!

David Reynolds: Where do you realistically see yourself and the club in 5-10 years time?

JM: In the next five to ten years, I would like to see the club thriving in a new, modern stadium. I would like York City to be in a break-even position financially and competing in the top half of League One.

We feel this is a realistic footballing aspiration. I would also like to see the club have a successful academy, which produces home-grown players who can progress to the first team or beyond York City and see the further expansion of the York City Foundation and all the good work it does in the community.

If I am still able, I would like to continue as chairman of York City Football Club, which I consider to be a privilege.

Gary Sissons: What is your long-term ambition for the club?

What do you regard as your biggest failure since taking on the role as chairman of York City Football Club?

Do you think that the relationship between the fans and the club is important?

If we get relegated will we remain a full time professional football club?

JM: As stated in a previous question, I would like us to be in a new, modern stadium competing at the top half of League One. I think this is realistic.

I consider my biggest failure to be my involvement in the appointment of Chris Brass as manager, who had no managerial experience. This ultimately led to our relegation to the Conference.

As a board, we too were inexperienced and have learned a lot since then.

Yes, I think the club’s relationship with the fans is hugely important.

Yes, we will remain full-time professional.