COLIN Smith, the head of sport at University of York believes it could be possible to relocate the Huntington Stadium running track to the campus.

However, there has been no approach to the university about the relocation of North Yorkshire's only public all-weather track.

The university has been widely bandied about as a potential new home for the track - and Nestl Rowntree Athletic Club - should the current facilities at Huntington Stadium make way for York City Football Club.

The current plans are for the Minstermen to relocate there for the start of the 2004/5 season, but they would need a drastic overhaul of the stadium to bring it up to Football League standards - leaving athletes across the region to fear that the track will just be ripped up.

However, despite there being little time for all the work to be completed, no representatives from the City of York Council, Nestl Rowntrees AC and even John Greenway MP, who is one of the people to publicly suggest the Heslington campus, have approached the university about a potential move there.

The university currently has an six-lane Redgras track, the same as Huntington Stadium but has an eight-lane straight. There is an Astroturf pitch in the middle and has space to hold field events on land adjacent.

Director of Sport at the university, Colin Smith, told the Evening Press: "No-one has mentioned to us about the moving of the club here.

"We do have a track and the infrastructure in place, it just needs upgrading and there is the Astroturf pitch in the middle, but we have a separate area where field events can take place adjacent to the track. Alternatively, we have space across the road.

"But this is all speculation as no-one has approached us."

The move of the track to the University is something Smith could see working for all parties.

"It is an opportunity for the track - which is only used really for training - to get better use from the community and there would be no clash of interest, so I can see no problem housing the club here," he added.

Updated: 11:15 Wednesday, April 16, 2003