York City are ready to ask former chairman Douglas Craig for a 12-month extension to their lease at Bootham Crescent.

A planning application to redevelop Huntington Stadium has been submitted by the club today but the earliest date to complete the required work would be at the end of the 2004/2005 season.

That means City will be without a home ground for the majority of next term unless landlord Craig, the owner of Bootham Crescent Holdings, agrees to extend the Minstermen's lease.

Craig said he has not yet been approached by the club and would not comment on whether he is prepared to allow Chris Brass' men to play at Bootham Crescent until the summer of 2005.

He said: "I will have to wait and see whether the club approach me but there has been no contact yet."

The earliest date for a planning application to be granted or refused is anticipated as being in March or April which means, if the club were successful and the Government did not decide to call the application in, that another year would be needed to complete the ground improvements.

The club today issued the following statement: "York City FC has today submitted a planning application for the alteration and extension of Huntington Stadium. The application is based on the redevelopment plans that were shown by our architects CAD at the club's open day in July.

"The comprehensive application that was initiated soon after the Trust takeover in March will be accompanied by several additional reports including a sequential test, a traffic impact assessment, a travel plan, an archaelogical desktop study and an environmental study.

"If the council are satisfied with the information provided, the scheme then goes out for consultation to various parties, providing them with the opportunity to support or object to the plans. This process will take place over the next two to three months.

"A Planning Committee date would then be agreed and the scheme would go forward to members with an officers' report with recommendations for either refusal or approval.

"The anticipated planning date would then be likely to be some time in March or April but the application may be callled in by the Government officers as the site is owned by the local authority which could delay the planning date further.

"At best we will have planning permission by Easter but this is by no means certain and then we are looking at 12 months to complete the work."

York City stadium development director Ian McAndrew added: "It has taken several months of hard work to be in a position to submit the application. We have approached the application in a professional manner and have produced a comprehensive report."

The anticipated capacity of the redeveloped Huntington Stadium is 6,185 which includes a new north cantilevered covered stand for away fans with space for 1,654 spectators.

The south stand for home supporters would remain terracing with a cantilevered covered stand housing 2,068 fans and would also be the site of the club shop and social club.

The main stand would remain unaltered with a seating capacity of 951 but the West Stand would be converted from terracing to seats.

It has been suggested this would be an unpopular move with supporters of tenants York City Knights Rugby League Club but McAndrew said: "The redevelopment will bring Huntington Stadium up to Football League standards which will hopefully also benefit the York Knights in their quest for Super League status."

A meeting with UK Athletics is scheduled for November 25 to discuss the future of the running track.

Updated: 11:09 Monday, November 24, 2003