SPORTS Minister Dick Caborn is "very impressed" by York City's new stadium plans after meeting with the club's directors.

Caborn's comments came after he held discussions with the Minstermen's managing director Jason McGill and fellow board members Ian McAndrew, Rob McGill and Sophie McGill along with City of York Council Labour group leader Coun Dave Merrett.

City have identified three sites for serious consideration as locations for a new stadium - land owned by Nestlé on Wigginton Road, York Central and British Sugar.

Nestlé's venue is currently looking the most likely destination for a move away from Bootham Crescent with the club hoping to submit a planning application during the autumn.

Any plans to redevelop York Central and British Sugar are not likely to be necessarily advanced by that stage.

Sheffield United supporter Caborn was shown around KitKat Crescent by the City directors during his visit and also congratulated the club for its work in the community.

He said: "I am very impressed by what I have heard. Their proposal on how to incorporate community-based facilities in new stadium arrangements is excellent.

"Their plan fits in very well with the Government's agenda to widen access and involvement in sports and physical activity, addressing both social inclusion and health issues."

Government support for any new ground will be vital if the project is called in by inspectors following local consultation and Caborn went on to highlight the positive effect of new stadiums on local areas, as witnessed at Doncaster's recently-opened Keepmoat Stadium.

Caborn also outlined how the club's community ambitions could deliver real social cohesion.

Coun Merrett added: "The future of the football club and getting a modern new stadium and the proposed community facilities are a key issue for the city, which I'm fully behind. It is clear that development in Bootham Crescent is limited because of the terraced housing surrounding the site.

"We discussed the nature of a potential new stadium and how to gain community support for these proposals.

"Community involvement and local consultation is going to be crucial when we consider the planning proposals and I'm pleased we had such a positive meeting with the Sports Minister and wish to thank the directors for such an informative visit and open discussion."

The Labour leader added he would like to see any new stadium made available to other sports clubs in the area.

He said: "Multi-use is important as it would allow other groups access to new state of the art facilities which are unlikely to be replicated elsewhere in the city.

"However, it was clear there would need to be a financial input from any other parties to achieve all the club's proposals.