A BUSINESSMAN who spent his childhood on a farm between Morven and Mungallala has stepped aside as chairman and chief executive of financially-embattled York Knights amid reports the English Super League club had racked up debts of around $2 million in its first season in the top flight.
Clint Goodchild had been serving both roles but late last night, our time, the Knights put out a statement, outlining a changing of the guard at the club.
“I brought ambition. I leave with enough friendships and memories to last a lifetime,” said former owner Goodchild, as the Knights prepare for an away game against finals-bound Wakefield Trinity, knowing another defeat puts them in danger of finishing the season in bottom place and potentially, relegation.
“On arrival, I knew York was a proud Rugby League city but I didn’t know then how much this place, this club and its people would come to mean to me.
“To the players who sacrifice their bodies. The coaches who demand more. The staff who care far beyond their job descriptions. The volunteers who give their time. The sponsors and partners who believe. And the supporters who keep turning up. Thank you for believing. Together we made history.
“The club is in safe hands and has a very bright future. The club is lucky to have such a wonderful Yorkshire family involved and I am excited for this next York RLFC chapter.”
As part of the sweeping changes at the LNER Stadium, York’s general manager Neil Gulliver will take over the role of chief executive with the club insisting that day-to-day operations for the Knights, plus the women’s team, York Valkyrie, are “entirely unaffected.”
As a child, Goodchild attended school at Mungallala before completing his education at boarding school, travelling back and forth on the Warrego Highway.
Goodchild’s investment in York Knights, as well as a major rebranding for the club, attracted significant publicity in both hemispheres especially once it became clear the Knights had secured promotion to Super League, pitting them against heavyweights such as Wigan, St Helens and Leeds.
The men from the Minster City began the season in spectacular fashion, on home soil, producing a shock 19-18 victory against defending champions Hull KR.
However, it’s been a struggle since then with York entering this weekend in 12th position on the table, only two points clear of Huddersfield and Bradford.
Off the field, the Knights have also battled financially and at one stage, even requested an advance on funding from league headquarters.
Under the latest changes, a locally-based ownership group headed by David Dickson has reached an agreement to acquire majority shares in York.
“It’s no secret that David (Dickson) has been clearing the debts left behind by Clint Goodchild and has saved the financially stricken Super League club,” says commentator Mick Gledhill, aka ‘The Game Caller’, who broadcasts Europe’s premier competition from the north of England to the south of France.
The current finances of English Rugby League general continue to be a major talking point, with cash-strapped Super League, established in 1996 thanks to Rupert Murdoch’s News Corp, still without a broadcast partner for next season as speculation continues about potential investment by the NRL.
The situation in the UK has been underlined by reports in the past 24 hours that Hull KR’s net liabilities have ballooned to about $15 million.
That follows the BBC’s decision to not even show an interest in TV rights to the next World Cup, which begins in Sydney on October 15.
POSTED: Friday, August 28, 2026