HOPES that York City could find a future home at Huntington Stadium appeared to have been dashed today.

The Evening Press has learned that access problems mean City of York Council planners would be unlikely to permit the stadium at Monks Cross to be redeveloped to Football League standards.

The revelations came after council officials met York Wasps Rugby League Club vice-chairman Russell Greenfield, who has put in a bid with Wasps chairman John Stabler to buy York City and its Bootham Crescent home.

Revealing the news, Mr Greenfield said their plans to buy the club would not be affected - but warned a new site must be found because Bootham Crescent had no long-term future as a football ground.

The pair had hoped City and Wasps could share Bootham Crescent initially, then move to Huntington Stadium in about three years, after redevelopment to Football League and Super League requirements.

They have met the £4.5 million asking price set by City chairman Douglas Craig, and their only rival is Cheshire-based motor racing chief John Batchelor, who has also stated that City's long-term future lies away from Bootham Crescent.

Mr Greenfield said: "Our plans remain quite straightforward. We still want to buy Bootham Crescent and let the rugby club share it with York City. The problem will be that Bootham Crescent is basically not a long-term solution. If we don't find a new site, there would be no future for professional sport in York."

Roy Templeman, director of environment and development services with City of York Council, said officers did not give an absolute yes or no to Huntington Stadium, but pointed out the difficulties.

"With limited access to the stadium itself I said there were a lot of issues that would have to be overcome and that it would be highly problematic. If it is shown that Bootham Crescent is not viable, we would work with the owners of the club to look at alternative sites. The council is committed to supporting professional football in the city."

Football-supporting MPs have issued a rallying cry for "all associated" with the game to pull together and save York City.

The Minstermen were named in a Westminster early day motion condemning the "increasing financial disparity" between clubs at the top and bottom of the

league structure.

Bob Russell, the Liberal Democrats' sports spokesman who tabled the motion, is an avid Colchester United fan. His motion was backed by Paul Holmes, Matthew Green, Nick Harvey, Alan Reid and Adrian Sanders.

The motion will not be debated - it is used by MPs to raise in the Commons topics they feel passionately about.

Updated: 11:16 Friday, February 01, 2002