YORK CITY chairman Jason McGill believes the club would have "sunk into oblivion" without the support of the Football Stadia Improvement Fund - as the Minstermen celebrated another milestone in the Community Stadium development.

McGill put the official seal on an agreement with City of York Council that will see City take a long term tenancy at their new home.

The signing of that agreement, at Bootham Crescent, also secures the £2 million funding contribution pledged by the club at the outset of the project, with the support of the FSIF.

City announced, at the end of August, they would be responsible for operating and managing the new ground, set to be built at Monks Cross, on behalf of GLL - the company heading up the design, build and operation of the site.

It will see the club 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.

McGill said: "We are very pleased to have completed the negotiations and signed this agreement, which provides York City with long term security in the new community stadium and offers the Club the opportunity to be commercially viable going forward.

“We are also delighted to have secured £2 million funding for the project from the Football Stadia Improvement Fund. Without the wonderful support they have given to us since the dark days of 2003 and 2004, I am in no doubt that York City football club would have sunk into oblivion and would not be on the verge of occupying a fantastic new stadium in 2016.

“I would like to thank the City of York Council for their commitment to the stadium project and we look forward to working in partnership with them in our new home.”

A new planning application has been submitted for the stadium, which will see an 8,000 all-seater home constructed for York City and York City Knights.

A new leisure complex, which will replace the existing Waterworld and Courtney’s gym complex next to the stadium, will also provide a 25-metre, six-lane swimming pool complemented by a separate teaching pool and fun pool.

The stadium scheme, weighing in at £37 million, will provide a competition standard sports hall for netball, badminton and basketball with spectator viewing for up to 250 people, a 100-station gym with dance and spinning studios and an extreme adventure sports zone, all under the same roof.

There will be three, 3G five-a-side pitches at the site helping to support community initiatives and encouraging sport participation for all ages.

Cllr Sonja Crisp, the council's leisure chief, said: “This represents a significant milestone for the delivery of the York Community Stadium and leisure complex. Over the last three years we have made great progress in securing outline planning and funding, with work to begin in spring 2015.

“This stadium and leisure complex is the first of its kind for York; an 8,000 all-seater stadium with a high-quality hospitality alongside conferencing and swimming facilities fit for the 21st century. It will also have fitness and active play areas as well as a new community hub focused on providing health and well-being services for York residents and visitors."