York City's planned move to Huntington Stadium has hit another hitch - the discovery of a Roman camp on the site.

Archaeologists flying over Monks Cross in a light aircraft spotted the outline of possible Roman remains.

Now, the subsequent investigations have led experts to believe there is a second Roman site below the covered terracing opposite the main stand.

The football club is hoping to move to Huntington next season after its lease at Bootham Crescent expires.

But it will first need to upgrade the stadium to Football League standards, and it is set to lodge a planning application with City of York Council by mid-November.

The application will be accompanied by a report about the Roman discovery by an archaeological specialist, in conjunction with city archaeologist John Oxley.

It is possible that archaeologists will be given the green light to do some excavations building work begins.

York City's development director, Ian McAndrew, said today: "It's just another of those hurdles which we will have to take in our stride."

He said the planned move was working to a very tight timescale and a tight budget, and he was hoping the Roman discovery would lead neither to delays nor an increase in costs.

"We are liaising with the relevant parties at present to determine how this will affect our application and future construction."

The submission of the planning application will come several weeks later than originally expected, but there have been several complicated transport and traffic issues to overcome at the site near Monks Cross shopping centre.

Mr McAndrew said it was important for local residents and businesses to be consulted to ensure everyone was "comfortable" with the plans.

The club has also been waiting for the Football Licensing and Safety Committee to give the go-ahead for the move.

That body is to meet at Huntington Stadium on November 6 when the club, its architects, North Yorkshire Police and Charlie Croft, City of York Council's assistant director of lifelong leisure and learning, will look at policing and safety issues such as transport and fans' segregation.

City's communications director, Sophie McGill, said the club wanted to ensure it had the licence before seeking planning permission; otherwise it might have to resubmit the application, leading to further delays.

City chairman Steve Beck met this week with the management of the Monks Cross shopping centre, representatives of Sainsbury's, Asda and local businesses, York City Council and Huntington Parish Council at the Monks Cross Park and Ride site.

Buses from the centre of York and from other Park and Ride sites will service the Monks Cross site.

Updated: 10:47 Thursday, October 30, 2003