FORMER York City Knights skipper Scott Rhodes says the potential for rugby league in the Minster city is so big that the professional club must get back into the community stadium plan.

Rhodes, York born and bred, played 113 times in the Knights' heyday after joining in their maiden 2003 season, and is still heavily involved in the sport as head coach at the city's leading amateur club, York Acorn.

He says it is a "great shame for the city" that the stadium project has been shrouded in controversy - not least by leaving the Knights homeless - but he is optimistic City of York Council can work with the club's new board of directors to smooth over broken relations, the local authority having blamed chairman John Guildford for the fall-out.

"I don't know what's going on behind the scenes but it's certainly a great shame for the city that it's come to this," said Rhodes, the Knights having been ejected from Huntington Stadium so it can be redeveloped, with plans for a groundshare with York City then withdrawn.

"I'm sure they will work something out going forward and they will get back there - they've got to.

"When I played there it was a fantastic time and the club had a fantastic fan base.

"I know it's not been as brilliant over the last couple of years, but there is lots and lots of potential here without a doubt.

"I only know what I've read and it's hard to know the facts behind the scenes. It's just a big shame. Hopefully it will get sorted."

Rhodes himself has had some run-ins with the Knights while coach of Acorn, with relations previously getting frosty when the pro club took amateur players from Thanet Road for their reserves or for trials without full consultation.

But alliances have long since improved, with partnerships put in place over a year ago - and with Rhodes often coaching in a Knights scarf.

He added: "Without a doubt they should be involved in the new stadium. It's important for the city.

"I know it's going to be football based but we've got to have a rugby league team in York, there's no doubt about that.

"It's big in York still, like it always has been, and the potential would be massive with the new stadium."