York City Knights have asked York City if they could play end-of-season matches at Bootham Crescent – but the football club turned them down.

Knights executive chairman John Guildford said the rugby league outfit requested to stage the last match of their regular Co-operative Championship One campaign, plus any home play-off games that follow, at the Minstermen’s ground due to the poor state of their Huntington Stadium pitch.

But City rejected the request saying their pitch would not cope with the extra games as the fixtures would coincide with their Blue Square Bet Premier season getting to full swing.

The issue comes at a time when the two clubs were hoping to build relationships ahead of plans to groundshare at a new community stadium to be built at the Knights’ Huntington Stadium home.

Guildford, who has roundly slammed the community stadium project in today’s Press, would not comment on whether it showed they could not work together.

But he added: “I can understand City want to keep their pitch in good condition, but if they are going to move to our ground, we would have to play somewhere when this stadium is being built.”

Sophie Hicks, York City’s communications and community director, said the club had proposed allowing the Knights to stage a game at Bootham Crescent in May 2011.

She said: “We were approached by the Knights General Manager, Ian Wilson, around two weeks ago about the possible use of Bootham Crescent in August.

“Due to the serious pitch problems we encountered last season, which have been well documented, we said this would not be possible as it is the very start of the football season.

“However, we are keen to work with the Knights and host a future game at Bootham Crescent, so we offered Ian Wilson the opportunity of playing a match here in May next year.

“Clearly, when the two teams share a facility suitable provisions will be made to ensure the pitch remains in good condition for both teams.”