Knights players deserve better

So Saturday’s Press revealed the aspirations of Jason McGill (City’s Wish, September 17) – the aim of owning both York City FC and the Knights.

The football club is still a professional club, although one must wonder why when his aim is only for a Top 5 finish after relegation? His aim for rugby league is to ensure semi-professional rugby stays in York. Everyone else aims for promotion.

Looking at the harsh reality of the situation, the lack of the rugby team makes the so-called Community Stadium a faded dream.

If Mr McGill instigates a new club it would not be a second income stream. Previously he has stated he is not a millionaire and couldn’t afford the upkeep of the Knights so what has brought about this sudden change? As the council are supportive of this line, what incentives are they proposing to encourage this change?

Let’s hope this season ends on a high for the players who have deserved far better than what appears to be the future.

A difficult match awaits at Toulouse on Saturday, so we must hope employers can make their contribution and release players to take part in this game. Whatever happens I am sure they will play with pride for the shirt and the city.

Brian Watson Beckfield Lane York

Make offenders clean the streets

There is a low-cost solution to keeping the streets clean and the bins emptied.

People sentenced by the courts to community service should be prioritised for this task.

It can be difficult to find appropriate or meaningful work to be done by offenders who often have limited skills and sometimes a negative mindset.

They can end up standing around a lot and doing little of real value.

Sweeping up litter requires no qualifications or special skills or expensive equipment. Just brushes, shovels, gloves and a few handcarts.

Under effective responsible supervision offenders could transform the cleanliness of the city centre at virtually no extra cost.

It is a win-win situation.

Matthew Laverack, Lord Mayors Walk, York

Why doesn’t York have a casino?

YORK as a city is full of the usual city delights; drink, gambling in the vast array of betting shops, not forgetting the racecourse. Why now, and never in the past, no sign or prospects of a casino? There surely must be a reason.

On a weekly basis there are many smallish businesses that all close on the same day/night of the week for the usual exodus to Leeds/ Bradford/Newcastle, etc, to have their perfectly legal flutter on the spin of the wheel, etc.

Does York suffer some ancient law/legislation that bans casinos? Never a planning application for same, unless would-be applicants are talked out of it behind closed doors.

There must surely be a relatively simple answer to the question. What a potential wonderful earner for the coffers of York City Council. The answer to the question is?

Stuart Sykes, Proprietor, Blue Moon Trading, Goodramgate, York

Rational response to Brexit question

I WAS pleased to read Richard Brown’s rational response (Brexit vote not legally binding, Letters, September 14), to Philip Roe’s letters in customary self-assertive omniscient mode on the subject.

Would that I were endowed with RB’s articulate prowess.

As it is the best I can do in expressing my response in like vein is to quote a well-known adage – except that with my amnesiac memory I cannot recall it in its entirety – something to do with “Angels fearing to tread”, I seem to recollect.

A R Appleby, Stockton Lane, York