Fulham in £35,000 pledge

Fulham are pledging about £35,000 to a fans' group trying to save struggling York City.

Chairman Mohamed Fayed has promised the Third Division team's supporters' trust his club's share of the gate receipts from their sold-out FA Cup fourth-round tie at Bootham Crescent on Saturday.

The Football Association-approved offer was originally made to his counterpart Douglas Craig - who wants to sell York and their ground - but he refused the money, saying it was inappropriate.

Craig claims to have parties interested in buying the club but has said that if no one has agreed a £4.5 million deal for it before the end of March it will drop out of the Football League at the end of the season.

Fayed said: "York is an historic club with fine traditions and it would be a tragedy for the fans if it were to die. All of us in football should do everything we can to help the smaller clubs in the lower divisions because they are the grassroots of our great game." Craig said: "Anyone who gives money to someone else is, on the face of it, making a generous gesture.

"But we didn't believe it was appropriate to accept it. It would not help in what we are trying to do. In the overall picture it is of no great significance and is of greater benefit to the supporters' trust."

The fans group has been established with the purpose of ensuring the continuation of professional football in York.

Its spokesman Sophie McGill said: "It is a fantastic offer and will help empower us in our efforts to ensure the survival of York City."

Craig is one of the three man FA panel who have been deciding whether the League were right to deny Wimbledon permission to move to Milton Keynes. A ruling has yet to be given.

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