MIXED messages from City of York Council over the past week have done little to increase optimism concerning the building of a new sports stadium for the community.

What is clear, however, is that the Minster city is falling further behind in its provision of leisure facilities when compared to smaller, neighbouring towns.

Councillor Ian Gillies, the Conservative leader, recently told The Press: “If (City chairman) Jason McGill wants a commitment now of millions of pounds of public money to be spent on York City now, then as an elected representative I will have to disappoint him.”

His Tory counterpart in Calderdale, however, Stephen Baines recently agreed to stump up £5million, as council leader, to help complete the building of the once-embarrassing, but now commercially lucrative East Stand at The Shay, home to Halifax’s football and rugby league clubs.

That donation was made despite the football team plying their trade three divisions below York City in the UniBond League first division North, while the rugby league team operate just one rung above York City Knights.

Whether Gillies’ comments prove to be an honest appraisal of the local authority’s overall attitude towards the possibility of a desperately-needed, modern new home for the city’s sports’ clubs and residents remains to be seen.

After all, the Labour Group’s claim they were “100 per cent” behind the project did seem, excuse the pun, groundless.

Cynics might even suggest it smacked of political point-scoring as no mention of how they would deliver their vision of a new community stadium was included.

The Liberal Democrats, meanwhile, have offered their usual delay tactic of asking everybody to wait for the next instalment of very little progress when a new report on the project is issued in July.

Surely, if these two parties really were committed to the cause then boasting 38 of the 47 seats on the council should not throw up too many obstacles.

Where there is a will, there is a way.

It has been previously documented in the Diary how council-backed new stadiums at Hull City and Doncaster Rovers, both Football League opponents of the Minstermen just six years ago, have gone on to achieve unprecedented success in the Premier League and Championship respectively.

Following on from Halifax, two more of City’s traditional local rivals – Chesterfield and Rotherham – are poised to benefit from off-field assistance too as they complete moves to new stadiums.

Other than a £500,000 contribution from the East Midlands Development Agency at Chesterfield, neither club has acquired substantial local authority funding but their planning applications were dealt with swiftly and positively by councils described as supportive by both League Two outfits.

In 2003, as leader of City of York Council, it is interesting to recall Steve Galloway, now the executive member for city strategy and a Liberal Democrat representative, stated he expected a site to be identified for a new sports stadium by 2007 with planning permission secured by 2009.

Seven years on, the clock is still ticking.

It also has to be remembered the sale of Bootham Crescent would provide funds for relocation, along with that of the council-owned Huntington Stadium, considerably reducing the impact, if any, on the benefiting taxpayers’ wallets.

An on-site Tesco retail store will help fund Rotherham’s new home and, while York’s councillors continue to ruminate about the lack of suitable sites for a community stadium, it is worth noting the actions of their counterparts in Milton Keynes, where land was offered to the football club at an agricultural rate on the understanding it could be sold on to enabling developers at commercial prices.

Put simply, a city the size of York deserves a single sporting arena superior to the inadequate venues currently hosting national standard football and rugby league.

Manchester City Council and the New East Manchester authority even recently revealed plans to build a new £6million home for the Belle Vue Aces’ speedway team.

Now, is surely the time for City of York Council to remove the brakes on this crucial project.

Otherwise, professional sport in York might just kiss the dust.

Assists and persistence pay for Pitt the winger

COURTNEY Pitt has won the Press Player of the Month award for March. The former Chelsea apprentice took the honours after finishing two points ahead of nearest rivals Luke Graham and Michael Ingham.

Pitt scored his first goal for the club at Mansfield last month and later won a penalty at Field Mill. He also set up goals for Graham and Richard Brodie during March.

Brodie closed the gap on Press Player of the Year leader David McGurk to four points following his return to scoring form during the 4-0 win at Grays.

Two-goal Brodie collected two points as our second-highest rated player in Essex on Tuesday night.

Press man-of-the-match Paul Harsley (three) and Ingham (one), our third-highest rated player, also picked up points.

Harsley also received the two bonus points on offer towards the Player of the Month standings after polling the most man-of-the-match votes from visitors to our website.

During last Saturday’s 1-1 home draw with Tamworth, the Press points went to our man-of-the-match Graham (three), James Meredith (two) and Jamie Clarke (one).

Meredith and fellow full-back Ben Purkiss shared the Player of the Month bonus points, as joint winners of the internet poll.

The Press Player of the Year standings: McGurk 37 points, Brodie 33, Ingham 23, Rankine 23, Mackin 21, Graham 20, Meredith 16, Ferrell 15, Lawless 15, Parslow 15, Barrett 14, Sangare 14, Purkiss 13, Gash 6, Smith 6, Carruthers 5, Harsley 5, Pitt 4, Boyes 2, Clarke 2, Nelthorpe 2, Pacquette 2, Mimms 1.

The Press Player of the Month for March latest standings: Pitt 10 points, Graham 8, Ingham 8, Harsley 7, Mackin 5, Barrett 4, Meredith 4, Brodie 3, McGurk 3, Rankine 3, Clarke 2, Pacquette 2, Sangare 2, Smith 2, Purkiss 1.

Goals: Brodie 29, Rankine 7, Gash 6, Barrett 5, Pacquette 4, Sangare 3, Carruthers 2, Smith 2, Ferrell 1, Graham 1, Harsley 1, Lawless 1, Mackin 1, Pitt 1, Purkiss 1.

Assists: Lawless 9, Brodie 7, Rankine 6, Smith 5, Barrett 4, Carruthers 4, Ferrell 4, Purkiss 4, Meredith 3, Sangare 3, Gash 2, Harsley 2, McGurk 2, Parslow 2, Pitt 2, Graham 2, Clarke 1, Ingham 1, Mackin 1, Nelthorpe 1.

Bad boys: Brodie 12 yellow cards, 1 red; Mackin 10 yellow; Ferrell 8 yellow; Meredith 1 red, 6 yellow; Barrett, McGurk both 5 yellow; Ingham, Lawless, Smith all 4 yellow; Carruthers, Rankine, Sangare all 3 yellow; Gash, Graham both 2 yellow; Pacquette 1 red; Nelthorpe, Parslow, Pitt all 1 yellow.

New date for Herring show

Richard Herring’s sell-out gig at Bootham Crescent Social Club has been postponed until Wednesday, April 14.

The comedian was originally due to perform on April 7 but is now filming an episode of “Have I Got News For You” on the same evening.

Tickets for the original date remain valid or full refunds can be requested by emailing herringtickets@thisispop.org or phoning 07986 520549.

Fans who cannot make the rearranged date are encouraged to request a refund as soon as possible to ensure that their tickets can be resold.

A limited number of reallocated tickets will be made available online at http://bit.ly/herringtickets Herring is performing the gig for free with all proceeds going to the youth team development fund. He will also be a guest of the club’s at Monday’s home match with Altrincham.

Harrogate to Eastbourne

Harrogate Minstermen are planning an over-night trip to Eastbourne for next Saturday’s Blue Square Premier clash. The fare is £25 for transport only although assistance on booking accommodation can also be provided. Phone John Uttley on 07805 226342 for more information.