Gav Wilson

First thing I would do is get on to John Bastian and tell him to name his salary, then I'd task him with completing the player pathway from the under 8s in the community game right up to the York City Knights first team. The Knights have already started with their EXCEL ETP program, so the promising groundwork is already done. I would task him to get in touch with all the York born players currently in Super League academies and ask them to come to York and play for our newly formed Cat 1 academy - there are quite a few from Heworth and I'm sure more from York Acorn. I'd offer contracts to Greg Minikin, Alex Foster and Tom Lineham too. I would them employ at least 2 full time development officers to work with said academy, and continue the incredible work already carried out by the Knights Foundation, and branch that out right across North Yorkshire. It's no coincidence that the most successful clubs in Super League (Saints, Wigan & Leeds) are built off the back of the strongest academies! If we were talking Euromillions I would then buy a 50% stake in the brand new LNER stadium, hand James Ford a new long term contract, and offer all the existing 2020 squad a full time contract and run a hybrid squad for those that wanted a good crack One can dream...

LMA Manager. Great game!

What expectations?

Apropos of nothing, but Jonathan Thurston was released by Canterbury early in his career...

Is this a wind up?

My mind could be playing tricks on me but I think I remember a team called New South Wales around 1996? Real interesting list that!

I'd snap your hand off if it was XL... I still wear my Uncle's actual playing shirt from that year, though it has seen better days!

That is absolutely beautiful!

Jimmy Keinhorst, Chris Clarkson and Danny Washbrook aren't upgrades?

Exactly. York did a similar thing last year - running with an initial squad of 24 players - and went ok. Without a team in the reserve structure (yet) there's no point in the Knights running with a squad of 30-odd players.

What is?

Thats not why we're dong it Deano and you know it.

Cas in 2020. (Didn't have one in 2019, Hull KR in 2018).

Anyway... I'd like to see Newcastle and Doncaster come up to the Championship (and hope York & London stay in). Would make for some decent East Coast Mainline derbies at the LNER Community Stadium!

It's taken me 48 hours to recover from reading this post. Needed picking up off the floor and everything.

I'm not privy but considering both clubs wanted it now, I really hope that at least one stand has been future proofed for this in some way!

There is no standing.

Both York Council and the Football Club tried desperately to get the Football Foundation to change their stipulations but sadly to no avail. It is what it is. I'd much rather have a brand new 8,500 all seater than a 98 year old 7,500 capacity ground (less a few hundred each year as the safety certificate condemns another section) with the option to stand on a crumbling terrace and a piece of guttering against a wall for a toilet. Each to their own I guess.

There's a rock climbing wall!

You're making no sense whatsoever.

We are yeah mate. London Broncos aren't.

And for the last time. Standing wasn't an option...

Well I'm very much looking forward to the safe, spacious, modern and (most importantly for me) accessible facilities in the new ground anyway, along with hospitality facilities (the directors box at Bootham Crescent faced out onto the car park!). It'll give the Knights the perfect platform for Super League anyway.