York coach addresses takeover talk as ambitious Leicester City comparison made

York boss Mark Applegarth reiterated there’s nothing fresh to say on the Knights’ takeover as things stand, but did admit his excitement over the club potentially competing at the top end of the Super League ladder.

Last month saw Love Rugby League reveal that the Knights’ players and staff were told a takeover led by a local businessman and Knights supporter is imminent.

Talk of that takeover has quietened in recent weeks, but current owner Clint Goodchild is no longer a director of the club’s parent company on Companies House.

Head coach Applegarth has politely batted away questions on the takeover over the last few weeks, and did so again on Friday night at Leigh, but did share his excitement at what fresh investment could mean for the club.

‘Leicester City won a Premier League, 5000/1 odds that year, for good reason. We want to be competing at the right end in Super League’

Despite receiving half the amount of central funding as every other club in the top-flight this year barring fellow new boys Toulouse Olympique, the Knights have gained plenty of admirers throughout their first season in Super League.

Friday night brought a 22-14 defeat away against play-off hopefuls Leigh, in which York again stood up well: currently sat tenth on the ladder with five games of the campaign remaining.

Post-match, Applegarth said: ” There’s a lot of positive talk at the moment.

“Clint (Goodchild) has obviously done a cracking job in getting the team to Super League, and if there is any announcement, I’m sure it’ll be soon.

“I’d love to sit here and tell you that you’re going to win Super League without spending full salary cap with some marquee signings and without a wealthy ownership supporting that, (but I can’t).

“That’s true in any sport, you look at Premier League football to NBA to rugby union… they’ve all got one thing in common.”

Back in 2016, Leicester City were crowned Premier League champions in one of the greatest sporting shocks ever.

That year, York finished third in League 1 behind Toulouse and Rochdale Hornets – and Applegarth played 21 times for the Knights in the final season of his playing career.

The 41-year-old added: “The teams competing at the top are spending surplus and there’s someone (behind them) that’s willing to do that.

“Leicester City won a Premier League, 5000/1 odds that year, for good reason.

“We want to be competing at the right end in Super League, and I’ll let you work out the rest!

“There’s a lot of positive talk, and from a club point of view, when there is something to announce, there’ll be a statement out there.”