City of York Council's proposals to develop Huntington Stadium have prompted a furious debate.

Dave Stanford and Peter Martini report the views of York City - who are due to move there in little over a year's time - York City Knights Rugby League Club and representatives of the athletics fraternity who already use the stadium's facilities.

The council's plans involve the phasing out of the running track and athletics facilities while increasing the capacity of the stadium.

YORK City today turned up the heat on the local authority over its phased redevelopment plans for Huntington Stadium.

Despite the council's insistence their plan to retain the running track and build temporary stands initially will meet Football League guidelines City maintain the blueprint would fall foul of the game's authorities.

The Minstermen reckon the council's redevelopment plans are unlikley to gain approval from the Football League, the Football Licensing Authority, the Safety Advisory Group or the Football Foundation.

In the wake of Tuesday night's full meeting of the City of York Council, football club director Sophie McGill slammed the local authority's 'appalling' lack of support for the football club.

Railed McGill: "The true extent of the Liberal Democrat dominated council's commitment to the football club was exemplified in Councillor (Steve) Galloway's introduction to his statement, when he invited any councillors to partake in a coffee break in case they might find the subject tedious.

"At least six councillors vacated the council chamber at this point.

"Our supporters and the wider community have worked so hard to save York City and have already invested £500,000 in the survival of the club. "It is appalling that the Council have done so little to secure a future for this important community asset.

"We read so often about local authorities supporting their local clubs, in particular Swansea Council who are currently working with Swansea City FC to build a new 20,000 seater stadium, yet the City of York Council are not showing us the support we deserve."

McGill added: "Mr Galloway stated he wants York Council to be "a can do council, yet I would question what the council have done or plan to do for York City Football Club.

"Despite Mr Galloway's report, it has been the football club proactively leading this project to find a solution not the council.

"It is very clear the club is viewed by the council as an interference with an agenda of survival which fails to fit into to the council's bigger picture for York.

"The council plans are not only impractical from a design and funding point of view, they also restrict the club's opportunity to generate essential revenue, without which we cannot survive.

"York City Football Club wants to see all sports in York survive and flourish.

"The facilities we want to develop will be for the benefit of the whole community including football, rugby and athletics.

"The council's expensive, short term fix will not only delay a sensible outcome, but may lead to the demise of North Yorkshire's only Football League club."

McGill said City's architects, CAD, will be presenting the club's plans for the redevelopment of Huntington Stadium at City's open day on Sunday, July 13.

The plans do not incorporate the running track and fully comply with Football League regulations.

Updated: 09:38 Thursday, July 10, 2003