YORK CITY Knights' coach James Ford is demanding changes from the Rugby Football League after travelling to France for today's Kingstone Press League One play-off semi-final against Toulouse Olympique with only 13 players.

Ford is furious that his men, who are all part-time with careers outside rugby, had less than a week to arrange time off ahead of the long journey to the south of France.

He is also unhappy that the RFL announced that the Knights are 'not currently eligible' for promotion just three days before the game.

Chairman John Guildford is likely to appeal against the decision IF the Knights beat Toulouse and go on to win promotion - but even Ford admits that his side are now 'massive underdogs.'

"This is probably the tip of the iceberg for this issue," said Ford. "We will go there and maintain the integrity of the league and we will try to get at Toulouse as best we can.

"It's disappointing because I like to think of myself as a winner and I want to go and win every game. But I have got to respect that these players have got lives away from rugby.

"We are missing a number of people. There is nothing we can do about that and there is nothing the players can do about it," he added. "They are part-time players and I understand that they have a primary income to support their families.

The Knights took only 15 players to Toulouse two months ago when the two clubs were drawn together at short notice in the first game of the Super 8s and lost 46-16.

They had also travelled to France for the season's regular encounter just a few weeks earlier and lost 44-6.

The need for a third and final trip across the channel only materialised last weekend after red-hot favourites Toulouse were beaten by runners-up Rochdale Hornets in the promotion final.

Unable to field a full-strength side, Ford now feels the Knights are being unfairly handicapped in the quest to play at a higher level next season.

"Rugby League is a great. I understand why they are trying to spread the game," he said. "But at the detriment of young English players? Is that the right thing to do?

"I don't know the right answers. It's not for me to preach to people but, hopefully, some people are listening and will have a think about the set-up of the league at the end of the season.

"Hopefully, some people - much more important than me - will consider the effect of this and, hopefully, come up with a reasonable intervention for next year. It is only going to get more challenging for teams."

The RFL announced on Wednesday that the Knights - who currently share use of Bootham Crescent with York City FC - were not eligible for promotion because they 'have been unable to provide the RFL with a security of tenure at a ground that meets the necessary standards until the end of the 2017 season.'

Chairman Guildford, however, says agreement is in place to stage the club's home games at Featherstone Rovers next season.

Commented Ford: "Over the last two years, we have been continually met with challenges and disappointments. These boys have responded to the challenges on many occasions. I have been impressed - if not inspired - by some of the things they have done and the commitment they have shown to one another.

"We have had some, what I would call, 'poorly timed' news (this week), " he added. "The conspiracy theorists might say 'well-timed' news!

"We are going there as massive underdogs, we have a lot of people missing. It's my job to make sure that the players are as motivated as possible."

Toulouse had not lost a game all season prior to the promotion final defeat against Rochdale. The Knights, meanwhile, finished third in the League One table and fifth in the end-of-season Super 8s.

Toulouse coach Sylvain Houles said: “It’s very disappointing, after our season, to have lost on that game (against Rochdale) but now it’s important for us to re-group and stay focused on gaining promotion.

“It’s a big task we’re facing but the boys are hungry and we want to win the next two games," he added. "It will be a good challenge for us and we’re ready to race.”

Toulouse: Kheirallah, Maurel, White, Minga, Ford, Boyer, K Bentley, Masselot, Planas, Curran, Kriouache, Puech, Canet, Marion, Hepi, Ferret, Marguerite, Leha, Mika.

Knights: Haynes, A Dent, Hey, E Smith, B Dent, Presley, Brining, Waller, Emmett, Spiers, Tonks, Westerman, Applegarth.