York City's prospects were dealt another body blow today after York Wasps' bosses claimed a move to Huntington Stadium was "not viable" before the start of next season.

Russell Greenfield, vice-chairman of the Rugby League club, said an upgrade of the ground - to meet Football League requirements - was not realistic before the end of the rugby season in September.

Improvements are likely to be extensive if the stadium is to meet the requirements by next season.

Capacity must be raised from 3,246 to 6,000, and undercover seats from 861 to 2,000.

The stadium must pass certain safety requirements, and turnstiles and floodlights will also have to be improved.

"It's not viable to say York City could move to Huntington before the start of next season," Mr Greenfield said.

"Don't forget we have rugby played there just about every week until September.

"The turf couldn't stand it and a new stand couldn't be developed while the rugby is being played."

Mr Greenfield is in favour of a sporting merger, whereby both clubs would play at Bootham Crescent until Huntington Stadium could be improved.

"I think the upgrade would take 12 months minimum," he said.

Councillor Alan Jones, City of York Council executive member for leisure and heritage committee, echoed Mr Greenfield's comments.

He said: "I don't think it's viable or realistic that York City will be playing there before the start of next season.

"Unfortunately there are not many other alternatives."

Mr Greenfield, who has previously looked into the prospect of developing the stadium, claimed the cost of an upgrade at Huntington could cost more than £1 million.

He also revealed that he had walked round the stadium with City chairman Douglas Craig three weeks ago, after he was spotted near the pitch.

"He was looking at the viability of playing soccer at the ground," Mr Greenfield said.

"He should have talked about it with us three months ago."

But planners could yet come to the rescue of York City by blocking any potential bid to change the use of Bootham Crescent.

As City's ground has been used for sport for nearly 70 years, anybody wishing to redevelop the land for a different purpose, for example housing, must first get permission to do so off the city council.

Any new owners of the football club could also buy Bootham Crescent and maintain the status quo.

But if they were unable to meet the £4.5 million price tag, current owners of the land, Bootham Crescent Holdings (BCH), would force the club to vacate the ground.

For the land to then be used as anything other than a football venue, BCH would need to get change of use consent from planners, and if that was not forthcoming their only viable option could be to lease the land back to the football club.

Director of environment and development services Roy Templeman said: "A change of use for land would require planning consent and the council would be looking very carefully at the strategic need of this site for sporting facilities."

The developers building new homes on land next door to Bootham Crescent today denied they have made an offer for the ground - but would not rule out a bid in the future.

Crosby Homes (Yorkshire) Ltd is building 22 luxury homes at the former Lumley Barracks site next to the football stadium.

Updated: 15:21 Thursday, January 10, 2002