THE immediate future of York City Knights is likely to become clearer in the next 48 hours – though The Press understands there have been at least THREE serious expressions of interest in taking over the crisis club, including one from York City's supremo.

The football club’s owner, JM Packaging, has told The Press it is keen to have detailed talks with the Rugby Football League, saying the “passionate responses from Knights players, coach and fans following the abrupt closure of the club" have reinforced a desire to step in.

At least two other unnamed businessmen – one a former rugby league professional – have also made strong enquiries about getting heavily involved.

JMP would be keen to retain James Ford as head coach and keep in place the bulk of his current squad. It is unlikely the other interested parties would want to make major changes in that regard either.

JMP, which has a 75 per cent shareholding in the football club and is owned by City supremo Jason McGill, first made an approach to take over the Knights in February 2015 while the rugby club were rendered homeless amid the community stadium saga, following chairman John Guildford’s falling-out with project leaders from City of York Council.

In a new statement to The Press, JMP said: “The passionate and heartfelt responses from players, coach and fans of York City Knights following the abrupt closure of the club have fiercely reinforced a conviction held by Jason McGill, owner of JMP and chairman of York City FC, that there are considerable advantages to be gained from a future unified ‘Club York’ approach to sport within the city.

“In this respect it is believed there are valuable synergies between the sporting clubs that are capable of delivering distinct benefits for all - rugby league, YCFC, supporters and community initiatives thereby enabling players to attain the highest possible standards of excellence as they strive to achieve future on-field success.

“Accordingly there is an intention to liaise with the RFL during the coming week to hopefully resolve current difficulties and provide a pathway for sport in York.”

Of immediate concern for the RFL is finding a short-term solution to help Ford’s team complete their season, after the Knights board declared their intention to close the club down on Thursday night saying the community stadium project and the ground-share with City made it unsustainable.

Firefighters from the governing body have been working around the clock to overcome complicated legal, administrative and logistical issues. Those efforts were to be redoubled on Monday.

City of York Council has been involved in talks with the RFL, with Ford kept in the picture. The RFL, the council and City made a joint statement on Friday insisting there was a future for pro rugby league in York.

It is thought one interim plan being seriously considered involves transferring player contracts and team licences to a newco which would at least see out the season.

If and when that is set up and able to fulfil fixtures, thoughts could be turned to getting full plans in place for 2017 and beyond.

One major downside to this is the fear that the team – heading into the Super 8s section of the campaign as genuine promotion contenders - would not be allowed to go up from League One this year due to RFL rules on clubs folding and a lack of a business plan. This has not been confirmed, though.

Another option still is for someone to buy Guildford out, before the paperwork is completed and the business officially closed.

However, while optimism of a rescue has grown over the weekend, there remains an air of caution, especially over whether a new outfit finishing the season would be legally feasible.

Another potential major downside is the question mark over whether the club could be promoted this term, as another enforced season in League One could put off potential suitors, with the Championship much more lucrative.

There would also need to be giant steps forward in double-quick time to get a new set-up in place before the end of the week, with the team due to fly out to France on Friday morning for Saturday’s clash with Toulouse.

Rearranging this game before the end of the Super 8s would be a logistical nightmare, with the only blank weekend on the calendar being the traditional Challenge Cup final weekend over the August Bank Holiday.

The club would already need to rearrange the Doncaster match that had been scheduled for this weekend but was called off due to Bootham Crescent being unavailable - arguments over which triggered the events that led to the Knights declaring they would fold.