Brian Carney warns promoted Super League pair to expect ‘financial pain’ as expansion verdict aired

Sky Sports pundit Brian Carney has had his say after the composition of an expanded 2026 Super League was confirmed and he’s warned the two expansion teams of York Knights and Toulouse Olympique to expect ‘financial pain’.

The Knights and Olympians, who were selected as the 13th and 14th sides after Bradford Bulls gained entry via the IMG grades, will only receive half of the central funding that the other 12 Super League clubs, including the Bulls, will receive.

If the mind of Carney, who was speaking on Sky Sports, that is ‘really significant’ and he pointed to Bradford over a decade ago and their readmission to Super League on lesser central funding, which ultimately failed.

“York or Toulouse in particular have shown themselves willing to take financial pain,” assessed Carney, with the Irishman singling out the French side as they, like Catalans, will have to pay for visiting teams to travel – a burden he claimed was around £1,000,000.

Carney added: “They have said they can handle that financial pain. The proof will be in the pudding but try and put together a competitive squad when financially you’ve been handicapped to that extent.”

Brian Carney concerned over reduced funding for Super League expansion clubs

He also had his say on York, claiming that they “must have something financial up their sleeve” and he’d be right as chairman Clint Goodchild reacted positively to the news the club would get any central funding at all.

Speaking on Friday after York were confirmed as one of the Super League expansion sides, Goodchild admitted that York had planned for ‘zero funding‘, meaning the fact they get 50% is actually somewhat of a boost.

Even so, Carney is concerned over the fate of the two expansion sides as he outlined the fact that it’s easy to say certain things around finances, even using Salford Red Devils’ failed owners as an example.

He explained: “It does worry me a little because I can put together a financial plan on a spreadsheet right now and tell you what I can spend this year, next year and the year after. I haven’t had to spend a penny to do that though.

“I can promise you that I have sponsors willing to commit x amount of pounds in three years’ time, but until that money is turned into cold hard cash, it’s only on paper.

“We’ve just lived through the Salford experience, haven’t we? Millions and millions of pounds being promised and nothing has ever materialised.”

Countering that, Carney placed his faith in the chair of the independent panel Lord Caine, whom he praised for not letting his past relationships with Gary Hetherington bias him in any way.

He argued: “It has shown it to be a robust and fair process. There was much made of Lord Caine and his strong and long-standing relationship with Gary Hetherington at London. But none of that came into account, as Lord Caine said it wouldn’t.”

On London missing out, Carney said: “I would suggest it’s a setback for Gary [Hetherington] and his consortium. They have said that they’re more determined now than ever before but it’s going to be a long year with a lot of unknowns.

“If London are to make Super League in 2027, who’s going to miss out then? Unless we’re going to go again with 18 teams.”