York City Football Club today appointed a team of experts to drive forward the proposed £3 million redevelopment of the Minstermen's potential new home from the 2004-2005 season.

The consultants drawing up the plans for the Monks Cross Stadium site - the name currently being favoured for Huntington Stadium - are architect CAD Associates Ltd, chartered town planner John Potts Ltd and traffic and transportation consultants FaberMaunsell.

The stadium is currently used by York City Knights Rugby League Club and the plan - should it go ahead - is for the two clubs to share the stadium.

City's new stadium redevelopment director Ian McAndrew said: "It is absolutely imperative that we employ a strong team of experts to drive the project forward and to ensure the planning application runs smoothly.

"We have a very tight time-scale for the redevelopment and I am confident that this is the team that can make it happen."

Fans are today being offered the chance to have their say in what facilities they would like to see incorporated in the redeveloped stadium.

A coupon printed in tonight's Evening Press offers supporters' the opportunity to submit a top-five wish list.

Lincoln-based architect CAD Associates Ltd will be the lead consultant for the project and will be responsible for designing the redevelopment.

They will ensure the facilities included are within budget, satisfy Football League criteria and also the wishes of fans.

CAD will also liaise with key parties such as the Football Foundation to guarantee maximum funding is available, and will also employ a quantity surveyor and organise building contractors to work on the project.

CAD has vast experience in the design of football stadia. Since 1995 the company has worked on redevelopment projects for Lincoln City, Peterborough United, Wycombe Wanderers, Burnley, Tottenham Hotspur, Cambridge United and most recently West Ham United.

Chartered town planner John Potts Ltd, based in Durham, will be responsible for submitting the planning application and ensuring it complies with planning legislation.

Their role will also involve analysing the impact of the redevelopment on local residents and businesses in the area.

York-based traffic and transportation consultants FaberMaunsell will be responsible for all issues regarding roads and highways.

They will be embarking on a series of traffic and transport studies to assess the impact the redevelopment will have on the area.

The mooted Monks Cross Park and Ride scheme and the possible introduction of a green travel plan will also be key areas of interest and investigation.

Since 1996, FaberMaunsell have worked on a number of traffic and transportation projects within football and have previously been employed by Manchester United, Arsenal, Ipswich, Darlington and Barnet.

McAndrew said: "To make this project a success we feel it is essential to involve all interested parties from the very start.

"This involves consulting the fans fully to ensure we get the first class facilities everybody wants and working closely with the local authority and their officers, as well as consulting the local Monks Cross residential and business community."

He added: "The new York City board want this redevelopment process to be as transparent as possible and intend to issue regular updates so fans and interested parties in the community can follow the progress of our project."

City plan to hold a public meeting in June to reveal the plans for the redevelopment prior to the submission of a planning application at the end of that month.

The City directors are hoping to make an announcement about the club badge shortly.

Although the one introduced by John Batchelor at the start of this season remains on the team's strip the large badge to the entrace to Bootham Crescent was taken down last week as a symbolic gesture to signal the end of the Batchelor era.

Updated: 11:48 Tuesday, April 01, 2003