York City Knights head coach James Ford slams "imbalanced" fixture list

The new Kingstone Press League One format for 2016, following the reintroduction into the British arena of French champions Toulouse Olympique, sees the 15 teams play each other once in 14 rounds, after which the top eight break off into a Super 8s mini-division mirroring those in Super League and the Championship, with the bottom seven going into a League One Shield.

The top five in the Super 8s go into promotion play-offs like the ones this year.

Ford has already welcomed the "exciting" new format, but has been quick to slate the fixture list - released this evening - claiming it gives the Knights an unfair disadvantage.

This is because of the eight likely rivals for promotion - the traditional clubs plus Toulouse and big-spending North Wales and Newcastle - York have to play five away, including travelling to south France, and only three at home.

Not only does that make it harder for the team but it could also hit the attendance aggregate at Bootham Crescent and therefore hit the club's finances at what will become their new temporary home after this year's homelessness.

Of the six relative minnow expansion clubs, York meet four at home and two away.

"I'm just totally confused by it," said Ford when asked if he was happy with the fixture list. "We play five established clubs away from home and only three at home. I'm not happy with it, no.

"There are eight established teams and you should get four of them at home and four away - simple.

"I'm sure there will be some kind of half-thought-through explanation from the Rugby Football League. It just holds the game back.

"On the one hand you have to applaud them for including Toulouse but then you get an imbalanced fixture list like this. It's so frustrating.

"Could you imagine Manchester United agreeing to play Manchester City only away from home?

"It just seems to be a lack of common sense and that can infuriate supporters and sponsors.

"I understand the new format and I think it could work pretty well. We could have some really exciting rugby league at the end of the season when we break off into the 8s. Those groups will be evenly matched.

"I have no qualms about the format, I'm just really confused why we're playing more established clubs away from home. That's no disrespect to the other (expansion) clubs, who are getting better and will be stronger again next year, but if someone can explain to me the thinking behind it, then I hope they do.

"By the maths, one of the established teams will have five games at home and three away (against the other established teams).

"At the end of the day, the fixtures are what they are. It's not the first time. Just the other year (2014) we had to play Hunslet twice away and once at home.

"It's just another challenge we've been dealt. We had a few thrown at us this year from within the city and if the RFL want to throw some at us as well then fair enough."

The fixtures released do not include dates for iPro Sport League One Cup ties or Challenge Cup ties, the early rounds of which are likely to take place before the league season starts.

The Knights' match at Newcastle Thunder, scheduled for Sunday, May 22, could well be switched to Friday, May 20, to act as a curtain-raiser to Super League's Magic Weekend in Newcastle, as happened this year.

York City Knights League One fixtures 2016

1 Sunday, Mar 6: London Skolars, Home, 3pm

2 Bye

3 Friday, Mar 25: Doncaster, Away, 3pm

4 Sunday, Apr 10: Hemel Stags, Away, 2.30pm

5 Sunday, Apr 17: Coventry Bears, Home, 3pm

6 Sunday, Apr 24: South Wales Scorpions, Home, 3pm

7 Sunday, May 8: Barrow Raiders, Away, 3.30pm

8 Sunday, May 15: North Wales Crusaders, Home, 3pm

9 Sunday, May 22: Newcastle Thunder, Away, 3pm

10 Sunday, Jun 5: Rochdale Hornets, Home, 3pm

11 Sunday, Jun 12: Hunslet Hawks, Home, 3pm

12 Sunday, Jun 19: Oxford, Away, 2.30pm

13 Sunday, Jun 26: Gloucestershire All Golds, Home, 3pm

14 Saturday, Jul 2: Toulouse, Away, TBC

15 Sunday, Jul 10: Keighley Cougars, Away, 3pm