York City expect to submit their long overdue planning application to redevelop Huntington Stadium on Monday, the Evening Press can reveal.

The news comes after meetings between the football club, the City of York Council and representatives from the York City Knights Rugby League Club.

Those talks, to discuss the details of the planning application and how the stadium will operate when its facilities are shared between City and the Knights, are understood to have been positive and constructive.

Representatives from both the football club and the City of York Council will also meet with Nestl Rowntree Athletic Club next week, on Tuesday, November 25.

That meeting will take place after the football club's planning application has been submitted to the council.

However, November 25 marks the earliest opportunity for representatives from governing body UK Athletics to be in attendance, when the future of the running track at Huntington Stadium could be finalised.

Submitting the application is only the start in what could prove to be a long-drawn out planning process.

It could be spring before the application is brought before councillors for their approval and the process is complicated by the fact the stadium is on council-owned land, which means it may well-be be 'called-in' by the government.

Even without any further delays, it is extremely doubtful Huntington can be brought up to Football League standards in time for the start of next season.

If it is not, City, their lease to stay at Bootham Crescent by then having run out, face the prospect of having nowhere to play their opening home fixtures.

Douglas Craig, chairman of Bootham Crescent Holdings, owners of the club's current home, has so far refused to say whether he would be willing to grant the club an extension to their current lease.

Updated: 11:16 Thursday, November 20, 2003