In response to Philip Dacre's letter (Evening Press, Tuesday, May 20) regarding the stance of Friends of Bootham Crecent over the running track at Huntington.

I am sorry to read that he feels that FoBC is being 'arrogant'. However, he seems to have misunderstood the central point we are making.

A rescue package was thrashed out between all of the interested parties, including Douglas Craig, Persimmon Homes, York City Supporters' Trust and City of York Council.

On the basis of the agreement, the Trust invested several hundred thousand pounds - much of it collected and donated by ordinary football supporters in York and across the country - to save York City FC from extinction. All of those parties have so far kept to their side of the agreement, with the exception of the Council, who have now decided that they are no longer prepared to meet the cost of re-locating the track. The reason we have 'demanded' that the Council cover this cost is not simply because York City FC does not have the funds available (which it doesn't), but because the Trust relied on the specific promise that was made by the Council.

Mr Dacre asks FoBC to 'moderate' our stand on this issue.

I would ask him to consider this. If the Council refuses to relocate the running track, York City FC will not be able to afford to do so. This will mean that there will not physically be sufficient room to upgrade the stadium itself to accommodate 6,000 spectators, which is the minimum demanded by the Football League. Huntington Stadium will therefore no longer be a suitable venue for the football club. Because the Football League insist on York City having a ten-year lease on a suitable home, which must be within York itself, there will be no other stadium available to the club, which will result in expulsion from the League, and the probable extinction of York City FC.

All the money invested by ordinary supporters to save York City will have been wasted, and North Yorkshire will be left without a Football League club.

For this reason alone, FoBC will continue to fight tooth and nail to ensure that the Council either keeps to its word, or takes the even more suitable option of invoking a Compulsory Purchase Order on the Bootham Crescent site.

Ian Savage,

Friends of Bootham Crescent,

Huntsmans Walk,

Foxwood.

Updated: 10:32 Thursday, May 22, 2003