THE abandonment of York City's move to Huntington Stadium cost the club £60,000.

Finance director Terry Doyle has today revealed the sum, which is based on the abortive development.

City were committed to architect fees, planning application costs and other associated charges, while establishing the viability of Huntington Stadium as the only alternative home for York City.

But the planning application was withdrawn earlier this month when the club's board announced it had secured a long-term stay at Bootham Crescent.

Doyle said: "These essential costs were not due for payment until all funding for the move to Huntington was in place and until the move was finalised. Now that we have secured Bootham Crescent for the forseeable future, these costs have to be met much earlier than anticipated and this will have a significant adverse effect on an already tight cash budget. I estimate these final costs will be between £50,000 and £60,000.

"I am actively working with the club board and the trust board to identify organised ways of meeting these exceptional costs without affecting our playing budget. This will also assist other proposals for the benefit of our supporters.

"We hope to announce shortly specific projects with financial targets. We need managed fund-raising of this kind, rather than resorting to emergency bucket collections, as the successful way forward."

Updated: 10:48 Thursday, February 19, 2004