YORK City Knights chairman John Guildford has revealed he is in discussions with “a number of business people” about joining the club’s management board – to follow the appointment of Ian Paver.

New player signings appear to be imminent – filling the gaps left by those departing the club, who now include fan favourites Ben Johnston and Tom Carr – but it is off the field where the Knights have now been boosted, with Paver’s arrival following that of new commercial manager John Holmes.

Paver – of York-based family company Pavers Shoes, a multi-channel retailer with 100 stores, websites, catalogues, TV channel and a growing presence in India, which employs more than 900 people in the UK – is a former York Wasps player.

The club would not say whether he would be investing financially, but Guildford was delighted to have his business acumen at hand.Guildford said: “Ian will bring a wealth of experience which the club will benefit from. We are in discussions with a number of business people regarding joining the board to help take the club forward.”

Paver said: “I am proud to be invited to join the board and hope I can bring a bit of luck to my home-town club.

“I am looking forward to helping the club get promoted next season. These are exciting times for the club, what with the new stadium on the horizon and the pathway to Super League being more straightforward. It gives the club a great opportunity of playing at the highest level.”

Following the departure of general manager Ian Wilson, the board had comprised Guildford and respective heads of departments.

Paver added: “My role will be to support the management board and try to get the club to the highest level in rugby league.

“I will work with John Guildford to achieve the club’s vision. I am hoping to make quite a few games and meet back up with old players, supporters and friends who I met when I was at the club as a player.”

Holmes arrives at York having previously worked in commercial departments at Hull FC in rugby, Leeds United, Gillingham and Hull City in football and Brighton Racecourse.

His first involvement at the Knights has been to relaunch the club’s lottery scheme, targeting businesses as well as supporters and the general public.

Meanwhile, full-back Carr appears set to sign for Whitehaven while scrum-half Johnston is following stand-off Simon Brown to Kingstone Press Championship big-guns Halifax.