YORK City Knights will NOT get promoted to the Kingstone Press Championship as things stand, even if they win the League One play-offs.

The Rugby Football League say the club - who are now effectively homeless again - have the right to appeal the decision but currently are "not eligible" for promotion due to being unable to provide the RFL with the necessary security of tenure for 2017 at a ground that meets the required standards.

The statement from the RFL, however, was sent out at a similar time to the club releasing a separate statement which said they now have agreement with Featherstone Rovers to stage home matches at the Championship club's Post Office Road ground throughout next year if they are not allowed to continue playing at Bootham Crescent.

Head coach James Ford takes his team to Toulouse this weekend for the play-off semi-finals.

The statement from the sport's governing body said: "The RFL can confirm that the York City Knights are not currently eligible for promotion to the Kingstone Press Championship should they qualify for and win the 2016 Kingstone Press League One Promotion Final due to be played on October 2.

"Despite working with the club over recent weeks, the York City Knights have been unable to provide the RFL with security of tenure at a ground that meets the necessary standards until the end of the 2017 season. This is a requirement under section A2:5 of the Operational Rules.

"The club have the right to appeal the decision and this must be submitted in writing to the RFL within seven days."

Knights chairman John Guildford - who has put the club up for sale, saying he is to leave at the end of the season - has argued they do have a contract still in place to play at Bootham Crescent in 2017 as part of City of York Council's community stadium project. 

The council has not confirmed this, saying that while there is an agreement for "rugby league" fixtures to take place at York City's ground in 2017 and 2018, "it is not able at present to enter into discussions with the Knights regarding (their) agreement with the council extending beyond the end of the current 2016 season".

It said is was "important the Knights' ownership issue is resolved and that the council and the football club (as owners of Bootham Crescent) are satisfied as to the identity and financial viability of the Knights’ owners".

The Knights' statement today said: "York City Knights have an agreement that should the council not allow the Knights to play home games at Bootham Crescent then Featherstone Rovers will allow them to play at their ground until the new (community) stadium is available.

"The council has reserved the rights for the Knights to play at York City Football Club's ground but City of York Council state that the right will not be transferred to York City Knights. The Knights believe they still have a legal agreement with the council but media reports and confirmation given by the council to the RFL state they are proposing to terminate the contract.

"The statement from the council saying they have extended the licence agreement with York City Football Club is confusing as why extend the agreement for the Knights to play at Bootham Crescent and not allow the Knights to use the facilities for home games.

"As a contingency York City Knights had no alternative other than to agree an alternative ground in case the council decides not to allow the Knights to play at Bootham Crescent. The position of City of York Council is still unclear as to why they have agreed with York City Football Club but not passed on the rights to the Knights."

Featherstone Rovers chairman Mark Campbell confirmed their agreement for Knights matches was in place.

He said, via a club spokesman: "As another rugby league club we're more than happy to help York out.

"The relationship between the chairmen has always been positive and they have played games here before.

"We wish them all the best for the play-off game at the weekend."

The Knights were homeless throughout 2015 after being sidelined from the community stadium project following a falling-out between Guildford and the council.

They played games at Featherstone, Doncaster and, after receiving special dispensation from the RFL, York RUFC and Heworth ARLC, venues which do not meet League One criteria. They began playing at Bootham Crescent this year after getting back into the stadium scheme.