FOOTBALL club bosses and opposition councillors have joined forces to demand answers over York's Community Stadium project.

Confusion reigns over whether the plans are being scaled back, and crucial partners at York City FC have not heard officially from the council in months, Labour councillors and the club's bosses say.

York City's chairman Jason McGill has said they are "increasingly concerned" about a lack of communication over when the stadium will be ready; and are all the more worried by the departure of previous stadium boss Tim Atkins and another key project officer from the council.

A council spokesman, however, has said that a report is being prepared for key council Executive meeting in March when members will be given an update on the project.

At the same time, they will be asked to approve the finalisation and signing of the "design, build and operate and maintain" long-term contract for the new complex.

She added that the council would communicate "with partners directly" and not through the media.

However, both Mr McGill and senior Labour councillors are raising fears over possible changes to the plans, saying that while the Conservative council leader Chris Steward has recently put minds at ease by saying there are no plans to scale back the 8,000 seater stadium, this has not completely allayed the fears he provoked by saying publicly that "plans could change".

The council's leisure boss Cllr Nigel Ayre, has also confirmed they will stick with the already agreed scheme, but the joint statement from Labour and the club says there is confusion over what in fact is the future for the stadium development.

Labour York leader Cllr Janet Looker said: "Labour’s commitment first and foremost in this project is getting a community stadium delivered for York, so we give a cautious welcome to recent comments that indicate no major changes to the current plan. But these statements conflict with a previous statement where it is claimed plans could change. We need to know the administration’s official position.

“Concerns still remain around communication with the football and rugby clubs confirming they found out about the latest two month delay on the radio. That is quite staggering. The delay has still not been officially communicated by the council, consistent with the lack of communication on the project since last summer.

She added: "We agree with the Chairman of Football Supporters Federation, Malcolm Clarke, when he said the Coalition need to “come clean” with the sports clubs and the public about what its plans are."

Any big changes to the plans could lead to "years of delay", she warned, as planning permission and contracts would all have to start again.

Cllr Looker called on the council administration to get any changes to their plans "out on the table" and explain what they are, so the clubs and their fans can understand what is going on and the council's financial exposure is clear.