THE Football Supporters Federation’s national chairman Malcolm Clarke believes York City Supporters Trust’s compromise proposal is the “right way forward” for the club.

Clarke, who is also a member of the FA Council and a supporter of both the Minstermen and Stoke having grown up in both cities, went on to declare that club chairman Jason McGill might even be entitled to the naming of a stand at the new stadium after himself should he agree to the terms and continue covering operating losses until relocation to Monks Cross.

As part of the deal, which has been rejected by McGill, the Trust would dilute their shareholding from 25 per cent to five per cent, meaning Malton-based McGill’s JM Packaging company’s stake would increase to 95 per cent.

Certain conditions are attached, though, with the Trust entitled to commensurate payments should there be any equity left from the sale of Bootham Crescent and if McGill sells his shares within two years of the move to Monks Cross.

Offering his opinion on the shares issue, Clarke said: “It must never be forgotten that, without the efforts of the supporters, there would be no football club for JM Packaging or anybody else to own. It must also be recognised that the financial support of Jason McGill since then has been vital, with the long delays to the building of the community stadium not the fault of the Trust or JMP.

“Jason says it is only ‘right and proper’ now that he receives the Trust’s 25 per cent shares, but he does not need them to give him complete control – he has that already. If he was looking to sell the club, then 100 per cent ownership would, of course, make that easier.

“If the sale of Bootham Crescent yielded more money than previously thought, then there could also be a capital gain. Persimmon offered £4.5million in 2003 and, in the last six months, property prices have increased eight times more in York than in the rest of Yorkshire, so I would be surprised if the value hasn’t increased in the last 15 years.”

Clarke added that the McGill should also recognise the Trust’s constitutional right for representation on the football club’s board, arguing that the chairman had no powers to veto previous recommended candidates for such roles.

Ian McAndrew is the only other current club director and Clarke reasoned: “When decision-making at a football club is only the duty of a two-person board that is not very good governance.”

On his support for the compromise proposal, Clarke declared: “I believe it is the right way forward and, if the motion is passed and Jason then funds the club until the Bootham Crescent money becomes available, I’d support the idea of a stand at the new stadium being named after him.

“That would certainly be a better legacy for him than being the chairman of a club that has gone into administration and joining the list of people that have one strike against them on the Fit and Proper Person test.”