YORK City’s tie up with Nestlé will end in January.

Although it has been widely reported the deal to name the ground ‘KitKat Crescent’ will expire in the New Year, The Press can reveal the confectionery giant will pull out of the club entirely.

Nestlé chiefs have confirmed, in a letter to City’s board, their intention to end their sponsorship of the club which, in terms of the stadium, was a five-year association which netted the Minstermen £200,000.

But Nestlé’s withdrawal will go much further.

City also receive funding from the Wigginton Road-based chocolate maker for the naming of the family stand, the Smarties family room based in the same stand, and even for Yorkie the Lion.

All will come to an end in another financial blow for City, who this week learned they had lost £62,000 after the Football Conference slashed the amount of central funding given to Blue Square Premier clubs.

Nestlé refused either to confirm or deny the deal’s extinction, only saying: “We wouldn’t make a comment about what would be for next year – if there’s a deal or no deal”.

But Sophie Hicks, York City’s community and communications director, confirmed the partnership was finishing. The stadium is expected to revert back to being called Bootham Crescent at its conclusion.

“We would like to thank Nestlé for their sponsorship support since January 2005,” she said. “The initial partnership based on the naming rights of the ground enabled the club to conclude the deal to buy back our Bootham Crescent home.

“We have received formal notification from Nestlé that the partnership will not be continuing in 2010.

“We intend to use the name KitKat Crescent until the sponsorship agreement ceases in January, and in the meantime, we will be approaching other businesses to try to find a new ground sponsor and also sponsors for our family stand, family room and our furry mascot.”

Hicks continued: “With confirmation that our central funding will reduce by £62,000 this season, it is more important than ever we get new sponsors, like Pryers Solicitors, on board to help us combat this shortfall.”

Should businesses be interested in sponsoring York City Football Club they should contact commercial manager Ross Potter 01904 624447 ext 6 or email ross.potter@ycfc.net Meanwhile, winger Craig Nelthorpe should be available for the Minstermen’s first Blue Square Premier fixture at Oxford on Saturday at the Kassam Stadium.

There had been fears he would be hit with a three match ban following a red card after clashing with former Minsterman Mark Hotte in last weekend’s 3-1 friendly defeat at AFC Halifax.

But red card changes announced this week by the Football Association, and ready for the new season, reveal that sanctions resulting from being sent off in pre-season friendly fixtures will not apply to competitive first team games.