THE brotherhood of football has rallied to the cause of stricken York City.

With the future of the club and its football ground shrouded in uncertainty, fellow clubs have offered helping hands.

It has emerged any new owners of City must vacate Bootham Crescent by the end of June - unless they are also prepared to meet the £4.5million asking price for the ground.

The most obvious stadium for relocation remains Huntington Stadium, the home of York Wasps. However, doubt has been cast on the chances of bringing that ground up to Football League standards in time for the start of next season.

If so, City face the very real prospect of being homeless.

However, Scarborough chairman Malcolm Reynolds has sprung to the Minstermen's aid by not dismissing the possibility of City playing their games at the McCain Stadium.

The clubs' fans enjoy a fierce rivalry and the McCain Stadium is around 45 miles from York but all possible scenarios have to be considered.

Reynolds, a Bridlington-based businessman, said: "There are a lot of issues that would have to be resolved but, as a principle, I have no objection.

"If there is anything at all we can do to help keep York City in business we would do that."

He added: "We are nearer York than Brighton is to Gillingham (where Brighton once had to play).

"But that is not the issue.

"The issue facing potential new owners of York City is that they have to keep the club alive and how they will fulfil their League programme.

"Our ground has been maintained at League standards and therefore that issue would not be a problem."

Another possibility would be to use the current Feethams base of Third Division rivals Darlington.

The Quakers are due to move into their new 20,000-plus seater ground next season with the intention to then use Feethams for reserves and youth team games. With Darlington on the same main east-coast rail link as York then travel would not be too great a problem if the Minstermen were to be housed at Feethams.

Darlington's owner George Reynolds was unable to be contacted today as he was in Norway on business for the next few days.

The growing relationship between City and Chesterfield fans has also seen olive branches offered from Saltergate.

Chairman Ian Yeowart, who spoke to the City supporters at the public meeting on Monday, has given his support to the principle of a ground-share.

"If it became the only option, I'm sure it would be looked upon favourably by the Trust at Chesterfield," said Yeowart.

Updated: 12:01 Thursday, January 10, 2002