JAMES FORD says his promotion-chasing York City Knights team will overcome the latest disappointment regarding Bootham Crescent – and can "hit their standards" no matter where they play.

City of York Council today confirmed that installing sockets for rugby posts is holding up the Knights' move to York City's ground as part of their new community stadium deal.

This means the club are to stay at Heworth ARLC's Elmpark Way for the remainder of the regular season, starting with Sunday's visit of Oxford.

Arranging a safety certificate to allow rugby to be played at the football ground is another hurdle.

However, the council is "hopeful" Ford's team could play at Bootham Crescent in the promotion play-offs in mid-September, should they qualify and get a home tie, otherwise they will move in next season.

The team have also finally begun training back at York St John University, whose state-of-the-art facility is to be their training base as part of the stadium project.

Ford, who has led his team to second in Kingstone Press League One despite a season of off-field disruption, said: "It's disappointing (not to get into Bootham Crescent yet) but we've been in this situation now for quite a long time.

"It's pleasing to see light at the end of the tunnel and that this situation will be dealt with, allowing the players to be able to play at a stadium they deserve to be in."

The rugby club, homeless all year due to the community stadium saga, signed a deal last month that got them back into the project, which entails playing at City's ground until the new arena is built to house both clubs. It was initially assumed they would be able to move in straight away.

Asked if the hold-up had affected enthusiasm, Ford said: "I've learned to deal with disappointment this year so one more is not going to do anything major.

"We're really pleased to be back in the training facility this week – we've had a great first session there – and we're pleased to be making progress off the field as well as on it.

"I've got a group of players who are very focussed on improving as a group and individually, regardless of where we play. We expect to meet our standards whether we're playing at Bootham Crescent, Heworth or anywhere."

The council has confirmed that sockets for rugby posts have not yet been installed and, with City's season starting on Saturday, the next available time slot to carry out the work is early September, when City don't have a home game for a fortnight.

A council statement said: "Following the Knights' signing of the contracts for the use of the community stadium and interim facilities, the first available time slot to carry out the works is the first two weeks in September.

"The work to install the sockets will cause some damage to the pitch and a two-week window is required to ensure the affected area has time to recover.

"It was not possible to move forward with the works until the Knights had signed the contracts."

On the other issue, the council added: "An amendment has to be made to the safety certificate, which needs additional information to be provided.

"The application is due to be submitted to the Sport Safety Advisory Group, who are required to individually consult with its members who are represented by different regulatory and advisory bodies. Adequate time must be given for this to happen."

It is unclear how much time is "adequate", but the statement added: "The council is working positively with both clubs to ensure these issues are resolved, and is providing the necessary support to York City Knights during this transition period.

"They will not currently be able to play any of their remaining scheduled league fixtures this season at Bootham Crescent but we are hopeful that a home play-off tie could be hosted there."

Meanwhile, Ford has welcomed the news that prop Jack Blagbrough will be a Knights player for the rest of the season after Sheffield agreed to extend his loan.

The head coach said: "He's fitted in really well with the group and he trains to a very good level. He's very keen to kick on and improve and take his career further, and I'm hoping to help him do that.

"He will strengthen our middle options. He carries the ball with vigour and I am sure he will be of great benefit for us between now and the end of the season."