A NEW war of words has broken out over York City Knights chairman John Guildford’s community stadium idea.

In response to yesterday’s Press article in which Simon Hall, the supporters’ representative on the Knights’ squad builder fund committee, urged City of York Council to revisit the suggestion, the council’s Labour leader, James Alexander, has claimed Guildford himself has effectively admitted it would not work.

However, Guildford refutes this, saying he believes his proposal would still be the best option should the council take it on board.

The council is instead pressing ahead with the outline planning application from Oakgate (Monks Cross) Ltd, set to go before planners next month, which will see enabling funds from a retail development at the Monks Cross site pay to rebuild the Knights’ Huntington Stadium home so it housed York City as well.

As The Press understands it, Alexander claims the fact Guildford has not gone forward with a planning application is tantamount to admitting his idea is a non-starter and that it was not a “serious” suggestion.

Guildford says this is a politician “playing with words” as his proposal, a reworking of the Oakgate scheme, was merely a way to assist the council in overcoming problems with the current plans – but the council has decided not to consider it.

Said Alexander of Hall’s initial comments: “I am surprised at this call. At the last meeting of the community stadium advisory group John Guildford said he realised his plan would not fly and I have asked for this point of information to be minuted as it is important to manage public expectations.

“This is presumably why he has not submitted any planning application. John has confirmed in correspondence he never had any intentions of progressing his plan or putting in a planning application. If a proposal is not serious the public and sports fans deserve to know.”

Guildford, claiming it was the council, not he, who deemed his proposal unfeasible, said: “James Alexander is playing with words. It was for the council to consider and explore the options – it’s they who are not progressing with it.”