YORK CITY will be the masters of their own destiny in their new home - after announcing they will be responsible for operating and managing the Community Stadium.

The Minstermen will take charge of the Monks Cross ground, when it is completed in time for the 2016/17 season, on behalf of GLL, the company heading up the design, build and operation of the site.

City will be responsible for the general maintenance of the stadium, the upkeep of the pitch, spectator safety, stewarding, ticketing and the new venue’s conferencing and hospitality offering for an initial 13 year contract.

The club's board of directors presented a proposal to operate the stadium to the firms looking to win preferred bidder status from City of York Council and were subsequently approached by GLL to manage the new ground and be part of their overall bid.

Chiefs at Bootham Crescent today said that overture was made because of their "comprehensive experience" operating a sports stadium and the club's "strong local knowledge and understanding of sports fans in York".

A thrilled York City chairman Jason McGill said: "We are delighted to be operating the new community stadium on behalf of GLL, who are a charitable social enterprise and share our strong community ethos.

"The agreement will allow the football club to access stadium income on non-match days, as well as match days themselves, which we will in turn be able to reinvest in the team to further our footballing aspirations.

"The arrangement also helps with security of tenure and allows the club to maintain our close relationship with our supporters, something which may have diminished should a third party have been responsible for operating the stadium instead."

He added: “We are looking forward to welcoming York City Knights to Bootham Crescent while the new stadium is being built. Hopefully during this period, we will also get to know their supporters well and fully understand their stadium requirements to ensure a successful partnership.

"It is an exciting time for sport in York and we look forward to continuing our excellent working relationship with GLL and City of York Council.”

Chris Symons, GLL's director of development, said: "We are delighted to have been selected as the preferred bidder for the community stadium development in York in partnership with York City and City of York Council.

"The plans for the new stadium, leisure centre and community hub will no doubt become a unique, flagship project that will thrive in the heart of the city.”

McGill confirmed that the club's £2 million Football Foundation loan, which was awarded to ensure they could buy Bootham Crescent a decade ago, would now be converted into a grant for the new project.

McGill added: "York City will be eternally grateful to the Football Stadia Improvement Fund and the Football Foundation for their fantastic support over the years.

"Without them, the football club, in its current form, would not be here today and we certainly would not have been a Football League club looking forward to life in a new purpose built, 8,000 capacity community stadium.

"We also extend our thanks to the City of York Council and their officers for all their hard work in recent months to reach this very positive stage of the project.”

McGill and his fellow directors, along with a GLL representative and council chiefs, will be at Pitchside Bar, at BoothamCresent, on Monday between 3pm and 7pm.

Those interested will be able to view the proposed community stadium plans and ask questions about the scheme.