FANS of York City will be able to see the football club's own redevelopment plans for Huntington Stadium at the Minstermen's open day on Sunday.

With the Evening Press yesterday publishing the City of York Council's phased redevelopment blueprint for the arena, interest in City's designs are sure to be of great interest.

The council are wanting the football club to take a more incremental approach to developing the stadium, including keeping the running track and building temporary stands.

The Evening Press hopes to publish the club's plans tomorrow.

The authority's plans were today supported by the athletes who use Huntington as their base.

However, City say the track needs to be relocated so they can build permanent stands at the Monks Cross site, complete with shop, offices and catering facilities, to be financially viable.

The club's stance was today backed by supporters' pressure group the Friends of Bootham Crescent.

The Football League is currently reviewing City's redevelopment designs for Huntington.

However, the League has still to cast its eyes over the council's blueprint and so are unable to say whether the authority's solution is workable.

The council maintain its plans are in keeping with League demands but City believe the footballing authorities will never approve the proposals.

A League spokesman said it had had no contact with the City of York Council regarding its phased redevelopment plan.

However, he confirmed the football club's plans for Huntington Stadium had been received and were currently being studied.

"Those plans only arrived at the end of June and we have not yet had the chance to have a look at them in great detail," he said.

"We have not had any contact regarding council plans but if there are council plans then they would have to be sent to us for consideration."

As well as viewing the club's plans, drawn up by architects CAD, at the Bootham Crescent open day, which kicks-off at 11am, City supporters will also see the Minstermen's new Nike kit for the first time.

Player-boss Chris Brass and the players will be don the new strip and run out of the tunnel, displaying the new designs and the club's new sponsor Phoenix Software for the first time.

City's senior squad will undergo a training session on the pitch with the youth squad also being put through their paces, joined by members of the Junior Reds.

City's junior feeder clubs will participate in a tournament with ground tours conducted by ex-players and an auction will also be staged giving fans the opportunity to play at Bootham Crescent at the end of the season.

Other attractions will include a barbecue, a bouncy castle and a range of stalls manned by the Supporters' Trust and other supporters' groups.

Kirsten Gillies, of the Supporters' Trust, who has helped the club organise the open day, said: "We hope City fans and the wider community will fully support this event.

"It will be a super family day and a chance for everyone to meet the players and really feel a part of the club. It is guaranteed to be a fun filled occasion with lots on offer for all the family."

City confirmed the club shop, ticket office and social club will be open from 11am until the event draws to a close.

City commercial manager Peter Salter said the club had considered the York City Knights when planning the event to avoid a clash with the rugby league club's big home game with Keighley.

"On the day, we will be encouraging our supporters to venture on to the game once the open day draws to a close," said Salter. "We intend to work closely with the Knights in the future and believe it would be a positive gesture to urge City fans to show support for their local rugby league side."

Updated: 11:12 Thursday, July 10, 2003