CITY of York Council expects to make a formal announcement regarding York City Knights playing at Bootham Crescent "early in the New Year".

The Knights were reinstated into Kingstone Press League One at the beginning of December following the successful takeover of the club by the consortium headed by Jon Flatman.

However, confirmation is yet to come that the team will be able to play at York City's Bootham Crescent ground as planned as part of the council's community stadium project. There is no other venue in York that meets Rugby Football League criteria since the rugby club's old Huntington Stadium home was knocked down to make way for the proposed new arena.

The 2017 season starts over the weekend of February 18-19 with the first round of the League One Cup - with the Knights having tonight been drawn at home to North Wales Crusaders.

They are also are hoping to play three pre-season fixtures beforehand, including two at home - dates of which have already been agreed with the football club. An away friendly has been confirmed, against Championship big guns Featherstone on Sunday, January 15.

The council has issued an updated statement about Bootham Crescent.

A spokeswoman said: “We remain committed to developing rugby league in York. Alongside York City, we have an agreement that will allow rugby league to continue at Bootham Crescent for the 2017 and 2018 rugby league seasons, until the opening of the new community stadium.

“To ensure value for residents we have a responsibility to carry out due diligence on the York City Knights takeover, which is normal practice for any contract which involves a financial commitment from the council. This work is progressing positively with both legal teams and we expect to make a formal announcement early in the New Year.”

Flatman said: "We're expecting a positive announcement in the New Year relating to the use of Bootham Crescent.

"Dates for home friendlies have been agreed with the football club, however they're subject to the completion of the council's legal due diligence which is nearing its conclusion."

League One Cup round 1 draw: Whitehaven v Workington Town, York City Knights v North Wales Crusaders, Hunslet v Newcastle Thunder, Keighley Cougars v Doncaster, Rochdale Mayfield v Barrow Raiders, Oxford v Coventry Bears, South Wales Ironmen v London Skolars, Hemel Stags v University of Gloucestershire All Golds.