ROOKIE boss James Ford has welcomed a tough baptism as York City Knights head coach after the 2015 fixture list revealed his first league game will be against relegated Keighley – and former York chief Paul March.

The newly re-branded Kingstone Press League One will kick off on April 3, and the Knights face two away trips before they get to play the first league match of their new residency at Bootham Crescent.

The league opener will see Ford begin his maiden campaign in the hot seat against a man who also cut his coaching teeth at the Knights, March having been player-boss in 2008 before being controversially sacked in 2009. The Cougars will also be one of the favourites to go up to the Championship, especially after the controversial way they went down.

But Ford - who was handed the Knights reins after previous boss Gary Thornton failed to secure promotion through this year's play-offs - said: “I’m really pleased we’ve got Keighley first up.

“We get to go up against and compare ourselves with a team who arguably will be one of the favourites to win the competition.

“I also think the pressure will be on Keighley that day. They’re at home and they’ll be many people’s favourites.”

Keighley appeared safe from relegation from the Championship when Batley, along with Doncaster, were docked points for fielding ineligible players amid dual-registration confusion. However, the points were rescinded on appeal, which ultimately left the Bulldogs safe and sent Keighley down. Cougars chairman Gary Fawcett is still fighting to swap places with Batley or get financial compensation from the Rugby Football League.

March - who had been subject to a two-month stadium ban in mid-season for improper conduct and breaching the game's respect policy following comments made to a referee - kept his job as player-boss, and is reportedly to bring his twin, fellow former Knight David March, to Cougar Park for one last playing hurrah after he helped Hunslet go up this year instead of York.

Ford, though, reckoned there would be no “March factor” when the sides meet.

He said: “Keighley have got experienced players and good players. They were unfortunate with how they got relegated. Paul March has been a good player and he’s a good coach, and David’s an influential player.

“A lot of water has gone under the bridge since they were at York, though, so that won’t have any bearing on this fixture.”

The Knights go to Oxford the following week – one of only three teams to beat them in the league this year – before making their Bootham Crescent bow against relegated North Wales Crusaders.

The latest expansion club, Coventry Bears, come to York the following week.

The restructuring of the professional leagues means there will be 14 clubs in League One next year, but there is no return to a straight home and away fixture list. Instead there will be 22 fixtures, with the Knights, for their part, not facing Keighley or Oldham at home, nor Barrow or Rochdale away.

Ford's men will finish their regular season in September against two teams who will be among the picks for promotion – North Wales, away, and another relegated side, Barrow, at home.

Top-five play-offs then follow, with two promotion places available through winning either a first-versus-second final or, later, the play-off final.

Prior to the league campaign, York's season will begin on the weekend of March 7-8 with Challenge Cup third round ties. March will also see the first games of the new League One Cup, a knockout competition which will featurs all 14 League One clubs plus 2014 Conference Challenge Trophy winners West Hull and another National Conference League team to be confirmed.

This cup will climax with the final at Bloomfield Road, Blackpool, on Saturday May 23 as part of the Summer Bash, a weekend where each Championship club will play a fixture at the same ground.

YORK CITY KNIGHTS  FIXTURES 2015

April
03 Keighley Cougars v York City Knights 3pm
12 Oxford v York City Knights 3pm
19 York City Knights v North Wales Crusaders 3pm
26 York City Knights v Coventry Bears 3pm

May
03 Swinton Lions v York City Knights 3pm
10 Gloucestershire All Golds v York City Knights 3pm
17 York City Knights v South Wales Scorpions 3pm
29 Gateshead Thunder v York City Knights 8pm

June
07 York City Knights v Rochdale Hornets 3pm
14 York City Knights v London Skolars 3pm
21 Hemel Stags v York City Knights 2.30pm
28 York City Knights v Swinton Lions 3pm

July
05 Oldham v York City Knights 3pm
12 York City Knights v University of Gloucestershire All Golds 3pm
19 York City Knights v Gateshead Thunder 3pm
26 South Wales Scorpions v York City Knights 3pm

August
02 Coventry Bears v York City Knights 3pm
09 York City Knights v Oxford RLFC 3pm
16 London Skolars v York City Knights 3pm
23 York City Knights v Hemel Stags 3pm

September
06 North Wales Crusaders v York City Knights 2.30pm
13 York City Knights v Barrow Raiders 3pm