IF York City were to go to Huntington Stadium the Football League could be willing to cut them some slack.

Under plans revealed today by City of York Council in partnership with a consortium of local businesses bidding to buy the club, City would ideally remain at Bootham Crescent. But if not, then work would have to be done at Huntington Stadium to bring it to the required standard if City were to play there.

League standards deem stadiums must have a minimum capacity of 6,000 including 2,000 seats under cover.

The present capacity at Huntington is close to 5,000 with 861 seats under cover.

Other matters which would require attention would include the number of turnstiles and the quality of floodlighting.

Fortunately for the Minstermen, there is no strict deadline.

Unlike clubs from the Conference, who have to have their grounds ready by April 1 in order for their prospective promotion to be sanctioned, City would only have to prove their ground will be ready in time for the kick-off to a new season.

A spokesman for the Football League revealed under special circumstances City could even start the season with their new home still not up to League standards.

Clubs can apply for temporary dispensation of the League's rules in terms of having a 6,000 capacity or having 2,000 covered seats, as long as the club could guarantee the criteria would be met in the near future.

He said: "They could play with a capacity under 6,000 for a short time. As long as there are clear plans in place that it will happen then the FL board would look favourably upon their request.

"It has also happened where clubs have closed sections of their ground for redevelopment and the League have given dispensation because there are guarantees in place that the ground will soon be back up to standard."

Any football club also needs to obtain a licence from the Football Licensing Authority and a safety certificate from the local authority to ensure the ground is safe to host football.

The FLA publishes a Green Guide each year outlining the safety requirements grounds must meet to obtain a licence.

Many of the criteria are very specific, with the number and size of safety barriers and the length and width of gangways having to comply with set standards.

The local authority will study the condition of the stadium, the quality of its safety management and the capacity of its entrances and exits before determining the ground's safe capacity and issuing a safety certificate.

For example, there is a maximum capacity of 660 fans per turnstile, providing all spectators can enter the ground within 60 minutes.

Updated: 14:02 Friday, January 10, 2003