York City have announced that full details of the deal to secure a long-term stay at Bootham Crescent should be revealed in two weeks' time.

The news comes just 72 hours before the date on which the football club could have been evicted from their 72-year-old home if an agreement with previous landlords Bootham Crescent Holdings had not been reached.

Legal reasons have delayed any announcement so far but the club are hoping that supporters will be informed of the club's future plans on Friday, June 11.

City managing director Jason McGill said: "The legalities surrounding the deal have almost been finalised and we are now close to making an announcement. We were expecting to reveal the news sooner and it has been a frustrating time for everyone, as we are keen to let our supporters know the full details as soon as possible.

"The postponement of the announcement is purely due to a delay in the legalities, rather than any complications surrounding the deal."

City's lease with BCH was due to expire on Monday and McGill added: "It is frightening to think we may have been without a home on May 31. Huntington Stadium was hugely problematic for a range of reasons and was never the preferred option for the club and our supporters."

A planning application to redevelop Huntington Stadium, the council-owned home of rugby league club York City Knights and Nestl Rowntree's athletes, was due to be submitted by the Minstermen before a solution was met over Bootham Crescent.

Northwich Victoria are expected to regain their place in next season's Conference after Telford United went into liquidation yesterday.

The Cheshire side finished rock bottom last season but will earn a reprieve after Telford's Supporters' Trust failed to raise the six-figure sum that would have kept the club in business.

Telford's demise means that all three clubs that finished in last season's relegation zone will have avoided the drop because of off-field factors.

Third-bottom Farnborough were saved because UniBond League winners Hucknall Town and runners-up Droylsden both lacked the necessary ground requirements to play in the Conference.

Leigh RMI were then reinstated when Margate announced that they were unable to relocate back to their home town and would have to continue ground-sharing with Dover.

Telford were founder members of the Alliance Premier League in 1979, a forerunner of the Conference.

The Shropshire outfit have a tradition as one of the strongest non-League outfits and have enjoyed some notable FA Cup exploits, most famously in 1984 when they reached the fifth round before being knocked out by eventual winners Everton.

There are plans for the club to re-form at a lower level on the football pyramid.

Updated: 10:47 Friday, May 28, 2004