Huntington Stadium is set to undergo a big facelift for the start of York City Knights' National League One campaign - with a new portable pub the main showpiece.

Changes planned for the ground will see new flat standing areas created immediately behind the posts at both ends, inside the running track.

And at the end opposite to the scoreboard, a new 40ft by 30ft mobile pub will be brought in on match-days and placed on the running track.

The Knights are in discussions about these plans with both Canon Leisure, which owns the ground, and City of York Council, and the Evening Press believes they have been approved in principle, though a new alcohol licence will also be required.

The changes at each end mean the capacity of the stadium will increase ahead of games against the likes of National League giants Widnes, Leigh and Hull KR, although it has not yet been confirmed what the new maximum will be.

The Knights have long been aware that fans have clamoured for a pub at or near the ground in addition to the Huntington Stadium bar, which has a capacity of 200 and next season will be limited to sponsors and season-ticket holders only.

The new pub, to be brought in on articulated lorries on match-days, will be run by the same company that control the stadium bar - meaning profits do not go into club coffers - but the Knights hope it will prove popular and enhance the match-day experience.

It is envisaged that fans will be allowed to take drinks into the area in front of the pub and behind the posts, while after-match barbecues and entertainment could also be held on summer match-days.

The playing surface at Huntington Stadium will also be improved after the Knights agreed new training venues, thus leaving the pitch free for match-days only, which next season will also see Academy games take place before the main attraction.

The club will train in the immediate future on the Nestl Rowntree ground at Mille Crux and thereafter move to Oaklands School, the specialist sports college in Acomb with whom they have agreed a new strategic partnership.

Fans may also have better car parking options on match-days with talks going on between the club, the council and First York bus company.

The Knights want First to reduce car parking costs at the nearby park and ride area from a daily £5 price to a £2 match-day charge, thus helping to ease congestion around the stadium.

Knights chief executive John Guildford said: "The council and Charlie Croft (the council's assistant director of lifelong learning leisure) have been excellent in helping with all these discussions and we need to thank them."

Updated: 09:00 Tuesday, November 22, 2005