JAMES FORD has outlined concerns that the Anthony Bate incident at Elmpark Way suggests bad old days of rugby league may return if the rot isn't stopped soon.

The Knights coach was speaking ahead of Bate's Rugby Football League disciplinary hearing this week, which has since been adjourned till next week so the player's club, Batley, can form a defence.

Bate, sent off against York in the last match of the regular season, has been charged with "contrary behaviour" after walking into the terrace following his dismissal to confront jeering fans face to face before having to be escorted along the front of the stand and around to the changing rooms.

The grade 'E' charges comes with a suspension of five to eight matches - and Ford expects the full punishment to be forthcoming, saying if it was one of his players, the forward "would not play for the club again".

Asked to explain his reasoning, Ford said: "I don't need to - anybody who saw what happened can make their own mind up. It was ludicrous.

"Rugby league, I think, has one or two growing issues regarding one of two things. With some of the skullduggery on the field at the moment, it's getting things back to the 1980s and '90s. Players going into the crowd is unbelievable."

Ford has often criticised spoiling tactics by some teams in League One this season, and pulled no punches when slating Barrow's performance, which, even according to Raiders coach Paul Crarey, "probably crossed the line at times".

On Bate's forthcoming hearing, Ford said: "If the game wants to move forward, the governing body needs to make sure the appropriate sanctions are in place.

"I'm not fully experienced in the ways of the RFL disciplinary panel. But I've not known anything like this before and to make sure it does not happen again I would welcome an eight-game ban for sure.

"If it was one of my players, it would be more than an eight-game ban - he would not be playing for York again.

"We've got to take the game forward. Behaviour like that is not helpful at all. It makes the sport look amateurish."