YORK City Knights supremo John Guildford says he is not surprised by JM Packaging’s approach to take over the club.

The Press exclusively revealed yesterday that the Malton-based company – owned by York City chairman Jason McGill – had written to Guildford with an open offer with “a view to providing a solution to the Knights’ current difficulties”.

Those “difficulties” effectively amount to the rugby league club being homeless on the eve of their season, having moved out of Huntington Stadium only to then be sidelined from City of York Council’s project to redevelop it into an 8,000-seater community stadium.

JM Packaging insists the move is not a take-over bid by the football club, who are to sell Bootham Crescent and likewise move into the planned new arena, and has assured rugby fans that finance would be “available where necessary to provide every assistance” for the club to flourish.

The Press were informed the approach would be made by post but, when asked if he would consider the offer, Guildford said he had yet to see JM Packaging’s letter.

“I have received no approach or offer to either me or the club,” he said. “I will have to see what it says. I can only reply to that if and when I see it.

“I think it’s strange to make an offer through the media – it’s a strange way of doing business. I can only assume it is some sort of tactic.”

The council, having promised the Knights would not be made worse off by the stadium project, blame Guildford for the breakdown in talks, saying it will not work with him again.

The Knights owner, though, has previously said the last offer on the table from the council put the club’s future in doubt, arguing their likely income streams from the community stadium would leave them worse off after they lost the lease of the bar at Huntington Stadium. That offer was then withdrawn.

He has recently handed all stadium negotiations over to four new directors who have joined the Knights’ board, and they were set to meet with the council today with a view to reopening detailed talks.

When pressed further on JM Packaging’s statement, Guildford said: “It is not surprising as the council has wanted this from very early on, and it might just explain the whole situation.

"However, I am no longer in discussions with the council and those responsibilities are now with the club’s new directors, so I cannot comment on any new talks.”

McGill, JM Packaging managing director, said: “There is no tactic about it.

“Instead of things being behind closed doors, people need to know that there is somebody else who is prepared to run the Knights in the best interests of the Knights and the supporters, and resolve the current issues of them having nowhere to train and play.

“A letter was sent to John Guildford from JM Packaging on Monday concerning the will on our part to enter into negotiations with him.”

Asked about the new development, a spokesman for City of York Council said: “This is a matter between two commercial operators.

“The council has no bearing on or involvement in it. Council representatives will be meeting representatives of the Knights board as planned.”

Meanwhile, Knights head coach James Ford, preparing for the season starter away to London Skolars in the opening round of the League One Cup on Sunday, would not comment on the issue.

He is focused instead on on-field matters.

Said Ford: “The off-field situation is obviously concerning, but the coaching staff have asked the players to focus on what they can control and that’s their performances in training and in matches to ensure the club gets off to a good start to the season."