Will rule changes have a knock-on effect on Knights’ own production line? (From York Press)

Will rule changes have a knock-on effect on Knights’ own production line?

11:13am Saturday 26th September 2009 in

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IT’S a rule which has so far helped York City Knights’ recruitment for 2010, but it remains to be seen what kind of knock-on effect it will have in the long term.

As of next year, the Super League reserve-grade academy level will drop down from Under-21s to U20s, with only three over-age players allowed in each team.

It basically means a bunch of players around the age of 21 will become surplus to requirements at top-tier clubs, as they will be too old for reserve football but not good/experienced enough for Super League, and therefore they will be picked up by clubs in the Championships.

The Knights have already taken a bite by recruiting Danny Bell and Nathan Freer from Hull, Wakefield’s Aidie Hampshire and Castleford’s Luke Helliwell, and more such signings can be expected, not just at York but throughout the league.

As reported by The Press, this quartet probably only became available because Hull, Wakefield and Cas had no space for them in the first-team squad under the salary cap.

On the face of it, therefore, it’s good for clubs like York to bring in more young players with a good upbringing. The Knights in particular have always had a policy of recruiting promising starlets and turning them into open-age players, a policy which has continued apace under current boss James Ratcliffe.

But will it have a knock-on effect on York’s own youth policy? Is there a danger youngsters coming through the Knights’ system might get pushed to one side by a recruit from a Super League club when it comes to breaking into the first team?

Allied to this new U20s rule is a new dual registration consent, whereby players can be registered with both a Super League club and a Championship club at the same time, whereas previously only one club could hold a registration.

Again on the face of it, this seems sensible.

Currently, players can go out on loan to get first-team action when in need of match practice or, in the case of youngsters, open-age experience, but the minimum loan period is one month during which the player cannot be recalled by the parent club.

That parent club, usually a Super League club, can sometimes therefore be reluctant to loan people out in case their first team suffers injuries and they are needed back.

Dual registration basically means a player does not have to go through the rigmarole of finding a suitable loan deal, and of finding clubs willing to come to financial agreements where necessary.

For example, Leeds prop Luke Ambler, who is on loan at Hunting-ton Stadium, could feasibly return to York next season as a registered player, despite being contracted to the Rhinos. If Leeds want him for their first team, he can go and play there at the drop of a hat, but if, as is more likely, he is on the fringes, he can get valuable open-age game-time back with the Knights.

This dual registration therefore gives fringe players the chance to stay with their Super League club yet at the same time play regularly in open-age football.

It also means some players around the age of 21 will not be left on the scrapheap or scrambling around looking for a new club.

But is this a swing towards a feeder club set-up?

Also, does it mean a team like York will continually put their own players on the sidelines to give games to players coming in from a higher tier?

Knights general manager Ian Wilson believes the answers are no. He explained: “There would be limits to how many players you could have, and limits on how many you could have from one club.

“It’s something Championship clubs will take advantage of – it’s in addition to the loan system.

“It’s something the Championship clubs support. It’s a club-driven proposal, not something that has been pushed through by the RFL.”

Time, as usual, will tell.

CLUBS in the Championships, meanwhile, will retain the current reserve-grade academy rules – under-21s football with up to eight over-age players in each team.

Many of the Super League youngsters coming to Huntington Stadium will therefore be eligible as U21s, but Knights general manager Ian Wilson says the idea is for them to push for the first team. Either way, it will bolster the club.

“We’re signing these players with a view to playing first-team, but in turn it will strengthen our reserves,” he said.

“I don’t think it was coincidence that when the reserves picked up form this year, the first team picked up as well.

“There’s more competition for places and people can’t just go through the motions. If the reserves are winning, the first team know there are people who can take their place.”

IN a separate new ruling, the RFL have lowered the salary caps for clubs in the Championships next season in a bid to prevent a recurrence of the woes endured by the likes of Doncaster and in light of the current economic climate.

The Dons, relegated from the Championship, were deducted nine points for going into administration having spent more on players than they could feasibly afford. Most of those players left as the season went on, leaving the club working hard just to fulfil fixtures and survive.

Rochdale, too, went into administration in the last 12 months, while Oldham faced uncertainty this year after their main financier threatened to withdraw backing, and Hunslet endured their own difficulties in recent seasons.

There remains some uncertainty over the Knights’ future, too, with majority shareholder John Guildford set to quit, although there is no suggestion of financial woes or indeed of spending beyond their means. Indeed, the Knights have always stressed they work to a practicable budget, a lesson no doubt learned from the collapse of York Wasps seven-and-a-half years ago.

The new rules mean Championship clubs can spend only 40 per cent of their turnover on team building, up to an annual maximum of £200,000. It used to be 50 per cent up to a maximum of £300,000.

Championship One clubs can spend only 40 per cent of their turnover, up to a maximum of £150,000, which is down from 50 per cent, up to £200,000.

Knights general manager Ian Wilson, though, says York’s turnover and expenditure is not big enough to be troubled by the new ceiling, regardless of what division they will be in.

“Our budget won’t be affected but it’s something the RFL needed to do, especially with what happened to Doncaster,” he said.

(Relegated Leigh have asked for discrepancy to spend more such is their wealth and set-up – so no need to guess who’ll be favourites for the Championship One title next year.) THIS column had a bit of a moan about the apparent inconsistencies in the Rugby Football League’s judicial system last week, so isn’t going to bother mentioning the two-match ban handed down to Keighley’s Daley Williams for breaking Danny Ratcliffe’s nose, dislocating his jaw and knocking him out, which happened to be the same punishment as that received by York’s David March for arguably an accidental tackle, nor the fact Wigan’s Sean O’Loughlin didn’t even have a case to answer for a seemingly similar tackle to March’s in their game against Castleford. None of that will be mentioned this week.

THE Knights’ 2010 shirt launch will take place on Thursday, November 19, in Bar 13 at Huntington Stadium, from 2pm onwards.

An initial batch of 125 home and 125 away shirts have been ordered and supporters are urged to pre-book to avoid disappointment. Shirts can be ordered by calling the Knights office on 01904 641724 or in person at Huntington Stadium.

Fans can also pre-order the new leisure range which include hoodies, polo shirts, T-shirts and rain jackets.

The fact a launch date is already known suggests sponsors are al-ready in place, which is a good sign.

The kit will again be made by Samurai. As previously revealed by The Press, the home colours will remain predominantly blue, but the away colours will revert to the traditional old York colours of white, amber and black.