Rugby league: End of an era as York are closed down

The Knights’ board of directors say they cannot continue running the club after a two-year struggle to find a home reached crisis point with the postponement of Sunday’s opening Super 8s fixture with Doncaster.

York have effectively been homeless since being forced out of Huntington Stadium in 2014 and had hoped to ground-share with York City until the City of York Council’s community stadium project came to fruition.

A statement issued by the directors said: “It is with sincere regret that we are to announce that York City Knights will be closing as a business once all legal formalities and obligations have been carried out, which will allow all the players and staff to become free agents.

“This is done with deep sadness but with the certainty that we did everything in our power to last through the challenging times since our eviction from the Huntington Stadium in 2014 and the difficult circumstances the club has experienced ever since.

“The board of directors now have no alternative and have been forced to make this very difficult decision.”

The news comes as clubs prepare to play the end-of-season play-offs. York finished third at the end of the regular season and were expected to challenge for promotion to the Championship.

A Rugby Football League spokesman said: “York City Knights and Doncaster have agreed to officially postpone the game on Sunday. Further information about if, when and where the game will be replayed will be released in due course.”

The statement from the club’s board added: “We hope that rugby league can stay alive in York and someone will come along and succeed where we could not.”