Community stadium talks back on Knights agenda as League One launches

That is according to the Rugby Football League’s chief operating officer, Ralph Rimmer, who says “all parties are keen to find a solution”.

Rimmer believes the Knights, who have been left homeless after a major fall-out between club chairman John Guildford and the council, are an “important part of York’s tapestry” – and even hinted at a future Super League potential should stadium talks prove successful in the long-term.

“To my knowledge, channels of communication have been reopened,” said Rimmer, seemingly a key player behind the scenes.

“I know after conversations with all the parties that everyone is very keen to find a solution and a resolution.”

The Knights were ejected from the community stadium project after the fall-out in which the council’s interim director for city services, Sarah Tanburn, launched a scathing attack on Guildford, saying the local authority would never work with him again. Guildford said the stadium terms put the club’s future in doubt.

However, with Rimmer playing an important role in discussions, four new directors joined Guildford on the Knights board a fortnight ago, with a remit to take control of stadium negotiations should the council allow them back in.

Rimmer has remained in touch with both the Knights and council chiefs and spoke exclusively to The Press at today’s official launch of the 2015 “new era” Championship and League One seasons.

“It’s completely accepted by everybody that York City Knights are an important part of the tapestry of the city of York,” he added.

“For that reason everyone is working hard to find a position that satisfies and guarantees the future of the game there.”

The Championship kicks off this weekend and, while the Knights’ League One campaign does not start until April, their first competitive outing – a League Cup first round tie at London Skolars – is now only two and a half weeks away, on March 1.

The Challenge Cup third round follows a week later and the draw could yet give the Knights a home tie.

As it stands, they will go into those game homeless, but Rimmer – a stadium advisor for clubs and councils in the past - was “hopeful” a resolution could be found with terms that were right for everyone.

If so, the plan could be revisited for the Knights to share York City’s Bootham Crescent ground while the council-owned Huntington Stadium – their home of 25 years - is rebuilt to house both clubs.

The line-up of skippers at the League One launch featuring, second from left, York City Knights team captain James Haynes. Picture: Simon Wilkinson
The line-up of skippers at the League One launch featuring, second from left, York City Knights team captain James Haynes. Picture: Simon Wilkinson

As for the Knights’ prospects, especially in a new community stadium, Rimmer added: “That club has the potential to be a really, really good club.

“The reasons for that have always been there.

“They have a community of good community clubs there and, while I know relations haven’t always been great, people are wanting to develop and grow those relations.

“They have a beautiful city and a uniqueness. They have certain unique factors other clubs would die for.

“That potential is what helped to attract those businessmen (the four new directors) to join that forum.

“I think that club has the potential to do anything.”

A spokesman for City of York Council said: “We can confirm that the council has been in discussions with the RFL and has met with new representatives from York City Knights. 

“We are currently considering whether the proposed arrangements could represent a viable basis on which to begin negotiations for the involvement of the rugby club in the community stadium.”