JON FLATMAN has set out his ambitious plan for York City Knights to triple their turnover in 2021 from the 2019 season.

York will end their year-long absence from the field amid the coronavirus pandemic next month when they travel to Sheffield Eagles in the Betfred Challenge Cup.

Having not played since March and with no fans allowed to return until at least mid-May at the earliest, it has been a testing 12 months for the Knights.

However chairman Flatman, who has overseen the club in its journey from League 1 to challenging for a spot in Super League, remains determined about delivering a successful year as the club moves into the LNER Community Stadium.

“2021 is a pretty exciting year from the club’s point of view,” he said. “We, as of now, have got a new stadium and training facilities that total a £60m investment into the sport by the council and the university.

“That’s a huge asset going forward for the game and certainly for the club. In terms of that investment, you can see where that’s been matched on the field as well.

“Where you’ve got the new guys coming in, matched up with the guy’s previously, I think we’re now in a position where there’s considerable investment on the field as well as in the infrastructure.

“In addition to that, in the near future we’re going to be announcing appointments to our back office staff. We need some commercial expertise and we need support in marketing and media.

“In 2021, we want to triple the turnover from the 2019 season. We want to be a bigger and a better business and a bigger and better club.

“York City Knights is a breath of fresh air at this point in time, with the challenging circumstances. And we’re absolutely keen to maximise our involvement in the sport and deliver that GDP for the game.”

Matches played behind closed doors will be streamed to supporters through Our League, with individual matches able to be purchased in advance for just £4.95.

After several years of discussions around a regular broadcast deal for the Betfred Championship now, albeit under unforeseen circumstances, one has been delivered.

“The exposure for the sport and the eyeballs on it are essential to its growth,” added Flatman.

“Without that broadcast opportunity, your corporate and commercial impact is much lower. Straight off the bat, it helps that and in addition to that, it helps the participation levels because the more people watching it, (the more it) increases those interested in the sport.

“There is a huge uncertainty in the broadcast market. The models of generating revenue from broadcast are ever-changing.

“Ultimately, we want the players to perform in front of as many people as possible, because we believe we’ve got a fantastic product.

“I still believe in the product of rugby league. The challenge is to get that to as many people as possible and to monetise how that broadcast system occurs.

“It’s absolutely vital that we’ve got as many games of the competition as possible on the right platform.

“That’s easy to say, but much harder to do.

“I believe that the backdrop to what the sport looks like is also important.

“I want people to turn on their Our League app, in this instance next Thursday, and see the stadium opener which is York vs Hull FC and I want it look right, to feel right and to be something that, when you’re casually hopping through channels, you ‘That’s impressive’.

“When you add what happens on the field and the quality of the action and the suspense and the drama to that backdrop, you get something pretty special.”