Coun Alan Jones, executive member of the council's leisure and heritage committee, today reiterated that the council would be unlikely to help financially with any renovations of Huntington Stadium - but added that "stranger things have happened".

York City might be forced to move to the ground at Monks Cross next season but it currently does not meet Football League standards. The council own the ground, which is presently leased by Cannons Leisure Management and rented by York Rugby League Club.

"At the moment the council is rather cash strapped and the likelihood of us being able to come up with money to help is small," said Coun Jones.

"Things like that have happened before and we've found it from somewhere but I'm not sure York city residents would make it a priority when compared to education, housing, etc.

"We appreciate that there were a lot of people at the 'Save City' meeting but to take York as a whole, there are over 80,000 residents and the 2,000 who attend City matches is not a large proportion.

"It's unlikely we could get our hands on large amounts of money but stranger things have happened."

He added: "The planning process (for renovations at Huntington Stadium) would have to be gone through like every other one. We could get it to committee fairly quickly but we would not turn a blind eye to anything."

As for today's shock news, he said: "It has not come as any surprise, what Douglas Craig has done, after he separated ownership of the ground from York City Football Club. I'm not saying he has done anything underhand but I'm sure he knew what he was doing.

"Obviously the city council want whatever is best for the football club. We can only hope that the person that buys the club has a great interest in football and can buy Bootham Crescent Holdings as well.

"I've noticed over the past few years that where some clubs have been struggling someone famous has come in and brought money to the club, and I was hoping something like that could happen for York City.

"I'm sure there are people out there with an interest in football and in the club."

"With regards to moving to Huntington Stadium, if push came to shove we would have to look at that but that would be a last resort."

Updated: 10:07 Wednesday, January 09, 2002