YORK City Knights are primed to benefit from a hand-out payment from Super League, the Evening Press can reveal.

It is believed the Rugby Football League are to waive a ruling which states only full members of the league are allowed share-outs of league funds. The Knights, being a new club, are only associate members and will not become full members until after a trial period.

The total figure to be divided among next season's 20 National League clubs is expected to be in the region of £300,000, and York are likely to get a full five per cent share of about £15,000.

If the hand-out is confirmed, it will provide a major boost to the Knights' bid to have £250,000 in the bank in time for next season. The amount in the coffers this week topped the six-figure mark and currently stands at £106,000.

The other new club to enter the National League next term, London Skolars, should also benefit.

Super League clubs had previously agreed to give for the first time some financial assistance to next season's National League clubs - this season's Northern Ford Premiership clubs plus the Knights and the Skolars.

But the fact the two new clubs are to get a share was only revealed after a meeting of NFP clubs yesterday, the first meeting officially attended by the new Knights outfit.

Knights chief executive Steve Ferres said: "The RFL look set to allow us a share-out of funds, which is something they did not need to do."

Yesterday's meeting also saw a provisional programme for next season agreed.

As it stands, the calendar would start on January 19 with the first Buddies National League Cup clash, with the Challenge Cup third round - the stage at which semi-professional clubs enter - to be held the following week.

Both cup competitions would then run through to April, with the new-look National League programme starting on April 18.

The Buddies Cup group section would comprise five home and five away rounds, while the league would consist of nine home games and nine away.

Ferres said the fact the new season would effectively start in January rather than March would not alter the Knights' financial plans at this stage, although the club would 'reassess the situation'.

The club had initially set a target of £250,000 before March and it was feared the club might have to pull out of the Challenge Cup in order to get the finances in place to compete in the league.

But Ferres said: "We will be entering the Challenge Cup.

"As regards the target, we will reassess the situation but it would be unfair to say anything or alter the original target."

Anyone wanting membership of the new club - costing £250 with big discounts for pensioners and youngsters - should contact supporters' trust committee member Jim Bone on 01904 673515. Season tickets are also available.

Updated: 11:16 Wednesday, September 25, 2002