YORK City Knights must target eighth place to be assured of a Championship spot next season – regardless of any knock-on effect of Crusaders’ shock exit from Super League.

That was the view of general manager Ian Wilson, who said the club could not bank on the “ifs, buts and maybes” of a potential league shake-up in the wake of the Welsh club’s decision to withdraw their application for a Super League franchise from 2012 onwards on the eve of yesterday’s licence announcement.

He also called on Rugby Football League chiefs to make a quick decision on the make-up of the Championships next year so every club knew where they stood.

Wilson, like many other observers, admitted to being stunned by yesterday’s developments.

Most had expected Wakefield to be demoted to the Championship in a direct swap with Widnes, who had already been given a franchise to go up to the top tier.

As it stands, Rugby Football League bosses will now talk to Crusaders chiefs about the possibility of them playing in the Championship in 2012.

However, doubts remain over the club’s very existence beyond the current season and, if they do not come down, that would leave the Championship with one less club.

It also appears likely that Toulouse – while exempt from relegation – will return to the French league, leaving the Championship two clubs down. There are also fears in Cumbria over Barrow’s financial state.

This would leave the Championships divisions – currently with 11 teams in the higher tier and ten in the lower following Blackpool’s demise in the winter – imbalanced and, although the RFL have been looking into the possibility of bringing new expansion clubs into Championship One, this was meant to be for the 2013 season.

Therefore, unless that process is rushed, the Championships could face a makeover, and one possibility is to relegate only one club, or even none, rather than two as scheduled.

A complete overhaul of the league, such as reverting to one division, seems unlikely but has not been ruled out.

Wilson, though, says the Knights must work on the assumption two will still be demoted.

“It would be helpful from our point of view if we all knew the situation,” he said.

“It’s all ifs, buts and maybes at the moment, but we have to keep going to finish in that eighth spot. If anything else happens then we will have to wait and see – but we can’t bank on that.

“I guess it’s case of ‘watch this space’ but we must work on the assumption two teams will be relegated – and avoid the relegation zone.”

The Championships will lose some kudos given that flagship club Widnes are moving up without another big outfit, such as Wakefield, coming down.

Wilson believes this will not have a huge effect on the Knights’ finances aside from the effect on the league as a whole.

“Widnes brought a few fans and we would lose that but I don’t think it would have a massive effect on our budget,” he said.