YORK owner Clint Goodchild has no doubt that his club will still be in Super League in 2027, whether the constitution of Super League is decided by the IMG gradings or by any other method.
The Knights currently lie in tenth place in Super League after registering their third successive victory, 20-16 against Hull FC on Thursday night, which was coincidentally their first home win against Hull in 50 years.
York had a gradings score of 13.04 last year, making them the 14th most highly graded club. Their nearest challenger this year is likely to be London Broncos, whose score last year was 11.65.
The Knights grading score had risen from 10.05 in October 2023 to 12.42 in 2024.
And Goodchild, who is reported to be on the verge of selling a majority stake in the club to an outside investor, is confident that York’s score can continue to rise.
“Yeah, absolutely,” Goodchild told League Express.
“A number of things contribute to our growth in grading. One being that we’re in the Super League, so when you look at all the measures of that IMG grading, by default we will have massive increases in average crowd attendance, in viewership and in social media.
“Our mid-year social media stuff is more than double what our whole year was last year. And now they’ve shrunk down some of the categories from three-year runs to two-year runs. So now, when you when you look at a two-year run, half of our measurement is going to be in Super League.
“Our score is going to go through the roof, and that’s not necessarily through good management. That’s by default. And that’s why some of these other clubs in the past have had scores above us because the jump to Super League raises your average compared to the Championship. In Super League there are massive gains in your IMG score.
“It’s not us that needs to worry about the IMG gradings, I can tell you that.”
Despite his confidence, however, Goodchild believes that London Broncos should also be in Super League.
“The franchise or licence model needs to have London in it now if we’re moving to that system and there’s an increase in funding into the game, whether it be through recapitalisation or whether it be through increased broadcasting revenue or commercial income.
“Going to 15 teams and having clarity on what a competition looks like for a number of seasons allows clubs to be strategic, not just on the field but commercially, with investment, because when there is a licence attached, there are some known details about what you can expect from revenue growth. Those are important aspects when you look at growing a league and when you look at recapitalising, whether it be the league itself or at club level.”
Meanwhile Goodchild suggests that the current uncertainty surrounding the next broadcasting contract and the likelihood of NRL investment into the British game is creating a climate of uncertainty among the clubs.
“It influences the way everyone thinks about the future, not just York.
“At this time of the year, normally there would be so much recruitment going on across the league. But it’s very quiet for this time of year in terms of signings and transfers. Everyone is kind of holding their breath and keeping their powder dry until they know what the landscape actually is.
“Are the clubs expected to continue to carry the losses of the sport? Is it an environment where investors can have faith and clarity around what they’re buying into? Everyone’s in this holding pattern.
“I know that the RFL and RL Commercial are working diligently to try and finalise and answer some of those questions. But the sooner they are known, the better.”
There are growing rumours about new investment flowing into York, and while Goodchild is reluctant to give any details before any deals are finalised, he admits to a growing feeling of confidence in his club.
“I’m not the only one who believes that York is a very attractive proposition. When you have a city and a brand like York, allied to five seasons of growth and the trajectory that we now have, you’ll find there are not too many clubs that can boast that. So it’s an attractive proposition for anyone.
“When you measure all things under our current circumstances, we’re batting well above our average.”
Local York businessman David Dickson OBE is reported as someone who could take a major stake in the club in the near future.