McGill sounds stadium warning

Chairman Jason McGill has warned a political shake-up at City of York Council could affect for York's plans for a new stadium.

City of York Council approved plans for the new £37million Community Stadium to be built on a site in Huntington earlier this month. The Minstermen hope to leave Bootham Crescent, the club's home since 1932, in the summer of 2016 but McGill said Labour's loss of overall control of the City Council could scupper plans to complete the move. "The current YCFC board has formulated a business plan based on occupation of the new Community Stadium in July 2016," McGill said. "Our initial involvement and financial model, developed in 2006, took us to 2011, but the parent company has continued to support the club beyond the anticipated five-year plan. "Any postponement or failure to deliver the stadium past 2016 will cause the board to consider its position and future involvement." McGill urged City fans to show their support for the venture at two forthcoming council meetings. The first on Friday and then at a full council meeting on October 9 when councillors will be asked to approve an extra £4million worth of funding. McGill added: "A vote against the £4million by the other political parties will cause the whole stadium and leisure project, with the obvious sporting and community benefits, to be in doubt. "This would cause at best delays to the project or at worst even put the project at risk. "Both results would have huge cost, viability and legal implications to current council community leisure facilities, and, of course, the new Community Stadium." The club's stadium improvement fund loan agreement ends in October and McGill said delays in the new stadium project could force the club to sell Bootham Crescent to pay off its £2million debt. McGill added in Saturday's matchday magazine, The Citizen: "Remember we are in this situation due to the actions of previous chairmen and directors who forced us to buy back our own stadium."