COUNCIL chiefs are looking at whether they can save a football team by buying their ground, it emerged yesterday.

City of York Council is considering whether it can acquire the Bootham Crescent ground of York City by a compulsory purchase order.

The council's legal officers are being asked where they stand on the matter by Councillor Martin Brumby.

The authority has already carried out an assessment and has not ruled out using compulsory purchase as a means of ensuring the survival of York City, now 15 days away from the possibility of being wound up.

The council's head of development services, Roy Templeman, said applying an order would be difficult, but it had not been ruled out.

However, Douglas Craig, the chairman of Bootham Crescent Holdings, which owns the ground, said: "They can please themselves if they think they can do that.

"I would not have anything to say on the matter until they decide what they want to do. We will have to wait and see."

Compulsory purchase orders are used when a public authority wishes to acquire private land for the benefit of the community.

The council serves notice on all affected landowners and occupiers, who can then object, leading to a public inquiry considering the merits of the purchase.

Sophie McGill, of the York City Supporters' Trust, said: "It is very positive that the council is doing all it can to look into every possible detail to try and ensure there is a football club and ensure the future of York City at Bootham Crescent."