York City chiefs today thanked council bosses for their support, after it emerged the authority was already scouting sites for the club's new stadium.

Sophie McGill, York City communications director, said that although it would be some time before an appropriate site was identified, the club found it "extremely encouraging" that City of York Council was so committed to the cause.

Council leaders revealed on Tuesday how a major new stadium accommodating both City and the York City Knights could be built on the doomed Terry's chocolate factory site.

Officers will look at the suitability of using part of the land, off Bishopthorpe Road, in an effort to breathe new life into the area, following the announcement that Terry's parent company Kraft will close the factory next year.

Other uses for the land could include a headquarters for any Yorkshire Regional Assembly, business headquarters or a boutique-style hotel to link up with York Racecourse.

Under the terms of the loan that secured the club's future at Bootham Crescent, the club must hunt out sites for a new stadium, with a view to moving in a decade.

Miss McGill said: "It is extremely encouraging to see the City of York Council so committed to a new stadium in the City and we thank them for their support.

"All brownfield sites will have to be investigated and it will probably be some time before the actual site is identified. York City Football Club will be driving the project forward as we need to move into a new stadium by 2014 as part of our commitment to the Football Foundation.

"We look forward to working closely with City of York Council to ensure our supporters and the people of York have a stadium of which we can be proud."

Updated: 10:23 Thursday, July 22, 2004