York City have taken their fight to bring Huntington Stadium up to Football League standard to the City of York Council.

The Minstermen, who have to move out of their Bootham Crescent home at the end of the 2003/04 season, face a race against time to complete the necessary work needed to bring the Monks Cross stadium up to scratch.

However, having grown tired of the lack of movement in the situation, the club have taken a pro-active approach and gone to the council to try to resolve the remaining issues.

Chairman Steve Beck and director Jason McGill met with senior councillors yesterday in a bid to thrash out the various options available to all parties involved.

The big sticking-point continues to be the future of the running track and the costs that would be incurred from its relocation.

However, the council, despite accusations that they have reneged on previous agreements to fund the relocation of the track, now seem willing to work with the club on the issue.

A spokesperson for the council said: "Senior councillors from City of York Council met with representatives from York City Football Club yesterday to develop plans to relocate the football club to Huntington Stadium.

"Representatives discussed possible options for the stadium and signalled their commitment to continue to work together to find a practical solution to the key issue of the athletics track. A number of possible solutions, which will need to be explored in greater depth, were discussed.

"Both parties agreed that their key aims are to bring Huntington Stadium up to the required League standards within the time and budget available, without detriment to the rugby and athletics clubs who currently use the stadium.

"York City Football Club is working with its architects to develop proposals for the upgrade and will be opening up the discussion to other user groups so that a plan, which meets the needs of all those concerned, can be finalised."

Meanwhile, the united front that saved York City from extinction will be officially recognised this weekend.

As revealed in the Evening Press, fan watchdog the Football Supporters' Federation has awarded its prestigious annual Services to Supporters accolade to the club to mark the special efforts of the whole community in securing City's future.

The role the Evening Press played in the fight to save City was said to be one of the major factors in deciding to honour the Minstermen.

The award will be made to City representatives at Highbury tomorrow at FSF's annual conference, dubbed the 'fans' parliament'.

Updated: 11:40 Friday, June 20, 2003