Doncaster Knights benefactor discusses government funding, Covid testing and streaming matches

The Castle Park club are well supported financially by executive chairman Tony De Mulder and chairman Steve Lloyd – and their generosity has been key to the squad rebuilding job undertaken by new head coach Steve Boden since last season ended prematurely.

Championship clubs saw their central funding from the RFU slashed by around 50 per cent earlier this year – before the pandemic took hold.

Knights have had no matchday revenue since March and are currently preparing to start the 2020/21 season behind-closed-doors next month.

The 12 Championship clubs were recently allocated £9million of the government’s £300m rescue package for sport but it is yet to be decided how that money will be distributed.

“This £9m the government has given to the Championship, we’re not sure yet just what format it will take,” said De Mulder.

"We think it is mainly loans rather than a grant.

“When that figure came out everybody said we’d be okay as we’d get £750,000 per club but that’s not true.

“We were hoping to be in Tier 2 which would allow us the crowds back in at Castle Park. We’d be allowed about 2,000 spectators if we got that in South Yorkshire.

"But we’re in Tier 3 so we are looking at streaming games so, if we get playing again, we’ve already set in motion a streaming system.”

Knights fans raised over £50,000 through a Crowdfunder scheme earlier this year to help with running costs at Castle Park.

The club have since been doing what they can to bring in much-needed revenue.

However, with the squad now back in training ahead of a proposed mid-January start for the Championship, De Mulder admits that the cost of Covid testing has become something of a political hot potato.

De Mulder said: “Our famous Cow Pie has gone down a treat.

"We’ve been selling that and doing takeaway Sunday lunches which all helps but it’s only a bit.

"It’s only pocket money really.

“The big sticking point for us at the moment is the costs of Covid testing and whether the Government or the RFU will support it.

“It’s £85 per player. We do it once a week and have about 40 players and staff so that’s around £4,000 per week.”

*Argentinean back row Guido Volpi has rejoined Doncaster Knights on a season-long loan deal from Pro 14 side Ospreys.

Volpi featured for Knights in victories over London Scottish and Jersey earlier this year after arriving on loan in January.

“We are really pleased and grateful that we can work with the Ospreys to help further develop Guido’s career,” said Knights head coach Steve Boden.

“He is someone who performed at a high level for us last season.

"He brings good ball carrying ability to the squad but, most importantly, we know that he has the desire to improve, and is a great character to have in the environment.”