A FLEDGLING rugby league club playing out of Manchester City's Etihad Campus are waiting in the wings to join Kingstone Press League One - potentially in York City Knights' place.

Manchester Rangers - who do not have direct links with the Premier League giants but play home games at the 6,500-capacity athletics stadium overlooked by City's 55,000-seater arena - have formerly applied to join the 13-a-side code's professional ranks.

They have released a statement insisting they do no wish to replace York and have not spoken to the Rugby Football League about doing so - dispelling some rumours which have appeared on social media.

But, if the Knights, who remain at the centre of takeover talks to save their future, do not get the green light as the clock ticks down towards 2017, Rangers could provide the RFL with another option to be the 16th club in League One.

Furthermore, when pressed, Rangers chairman Phil Fitton said they would be able to step into the breach at short notice.

"The RFL have not spoken to us to say we're in line," Fitton told The Press.

"We've been working with the RFL for three years and we submitted an application this year. We're waiting for a place to become available but we don't want to take York's spot. We hope one day to get in."

When asked if they would be ready to join League One immediately, Fitton said: "That's for the RFL to decide.

"We believe we're ready from the club's perspective, but we genuinely hope York stay alive and carry on. They deserve to. It would not be nice to see any team fold."

Rangers currently play in the amateur North West Men's League but believe they have the set-up behind the scenes to quickly become a semi-pro outfit.

They have been going for four years, having formed as a modern-day version of Manchester's historic last pro club, Belle Vue Rangers, and moved to the Manchester Regional Arena two years ago.

That ground, originally developed as the warm-up track for the 2002 Commonwealth Games at City of Manchester Stadium, was previously used by City's reserves and ladies' team before the Champions League contenders opened the neighbouring Academy Stadium on the same campus.

Rangers' club statement said: "We've been informed there are rumours circulating that Manchester Rangers are in talks to take York's place in League One in 2017. Whilst we have submitted a full application to join League One, we would like to state we have not had any discussions about taking the place of York.

"The current situation, as we understand it, is that York are in talks with a potential investor and will be playing professional rugby league next season.

"All at Manchester Rangers wish York the best of luck and hope any issues are resolved soon."

As reported by The Press, a consortium, believed to be headed up by sports management consultant Jon Flatman and backed by Featherstone Rovers chairman Mark Campbell, have agreed terms with outgoing Knights owner John Guildford to take over the club, with Guildford saying the deal was subject to City of York Council confirming the team can play at Bootham Crescent (York City's ground) as part of the community stadium scheme.

It is understood negotiations are ongoing with the council.

It is unclear if the RFL have set the prospective new owners a deadline for takeover talks to be completed.