York City's board of directors have revealed that they are committed to a fight to keep the club at Bootham Crescent.

That was the clear message at the Supporters' Trust's annual general meeting last night when a stay at the club's current home ground was described as the "preferred option" and it was repeatedly emphasised that "work behind the scenes" is being undertaken to try to make that possibility a reality.

It was also stressed that work must remain confidential and that the board realises that any long-term future at the club's "preferred" home is still dependent on landlords Bootham Crescent Holdings who are yet to agree an extension to the club's lease which is due to expire at the end of the season.

That decision has forced the club to make a planning application to redevelop Huntington Stadium in Monks Cross in an attempt to ensure League football in the city next season but Bootham Crescent would be the Trust's first choice as a home base for financial as well as sentimental reasons.

Addressing the fans last night communications director Sophie McGill, who was re-elected on to the Supporters Trust board with more votes than any other candidate, said: "We are all working with the best interests of the club at heart but unfortunately we can't tell you everything.

"We do have to manoeuvre in the background but if we have an option then in an ideal world we all want to stay at Bootham Crescent but we have to pursue Huntington Stadium because, at this moment, it's the only viable option to keep us in the Football League."

Trust board member Paul Rawnsley, who accrued the second-highest number of votes in last night's election, echoed McGill's thoughts and said: "Nobody has put in all this effort just to simply walk away from Bootham Crescent.

"Be assured that hard work is going on to ensure that York City Football Club has a good home in the city. The preferred option is to stay at Bootham Crescent and a lot of work is going on behind the scenes to find a solution.

"Some aspects of a redeveloped Huntington Stadium could be better than Bootham Crescent but many would not be. It's gone beyond moral and sentimental outpourings now. If we are forced out of Bootham Crescent the survival of the football club is threatened.

"As a Trust board, we all share your anger about the ground situation and I feel that some of the factors in a move to Huntington seem insurmountable."

Club director Jason McGill also added his weight behind a move to stay at Bootham Crescent but, as a word of caution, added that Huntington Stadium must be pursued as a "Plan B".

He said: "People have to decide what is more important - having a professional club irrespective of where we play or do we put in all our efforts into staying at Bootham Crescent. I have been told that the council's requests are the most onerous that have ever been issued on a football club.

"We have been working as a board of directors on the possibility of remaining at Bootham Crescent ever since we brought the club out of administration and we will continue to look at it until that avenue is closed. We want to stay at Bootham Crescent not just for the emotional issues of being here since 1932 but also for commercial reasons. However, unless Douglas Craig has a change of heart we are out on May 31, end of story.

"Having said that, I think it's in Bootham Crescent Holdings' interests to give us another year at Bootham Crescent. I think it would be very hard for them to get a planning application on the ground otherwise and I think the City of York Council would be committing suicide if they did."

McGill would not enter into discussions about how the club would reclaim Bootham Crescent but stadium redevelopment director Ian McAndrew firmly rejected a suggestion that the City of York Council might buy the ground from Bootham Crescent Holdings.

He said: "They have not got enough money to help us relocate the athletics club."

Last night's meeting attracted about 400 supporters to the Grand Opera House.

The Rev Michael Sinclair, former York City Football Club chairman, will conduct the funeral service for Frank Cawood, a lifelong supporter of the club, at St Philip and St James Church, Clifton, on Tuesday, December 23, at 1.45pm.

Mr Cawood, a former secretary and treasurer of York City Supporters' Club died on Sunday, aged 85.

Supporters at last night's Supporters' Trust AGM observed a moment of silence for the club stalwart.

Updated: 11:31 Thursday, December 18, 2003