MICKY LEARMONTH has left York City Knights on the eve of the new League One season to take up a career in boxing.

The prop, always known as a keen pugilist in the ring, first arrived on loan from Huddersfield in April 2015, with that switch soon becoming permanent.

He was in and out of the side, though, suffering a few niggling injuries, and he missed the majority of the 2016 campaign after a horror pectoral tear in pre-season, returning only last August. It all limited his number of Knights appearances to only 14.

Head coach James Ford is thought to have replacements lined up already but said: "It's a blow.

"We already knew we needed to strengthen in the middle and with Micky leaving that increases that need.

"He's a great kid and I've enjoyed coaching him, and we wish him all the best in his new career."

Meanwhile, Ford reckons full-back James Haynes could likewise forge a new career for himself - in the centres.

York's long-time number one has seemingly been been usurped from the full-back spot following the arrival of Ash Robson from Castleford Tigers.

But, while Ford has not ruled out the 27-year-old reclaiming that berth again, as he has done so often in the past after injuries, the head coach reckons he could yet find a new home in the threequarters.

Haynes scored the Knights' only try in their opening friendly at Featherstone after coming off the bench at right-centre, and he will start in that role against London Broncos at Bootham Crescent on Sunday.

The former Hull KR academy ace has also previously been deployed on the flanks at York, by former coaches Dave Woods and Gary Thornton, before reverting to full-back.

Said Ford: "I've been really impressed with his response to us bringing in Ash Robson. His performances in training have been excellent and he's looked comfortable when running in the centres. He makes good decisions and has good skills.

"We will give him an opportunity to make himself a regular there.

"Ash has got versatility - he could play half-back or wing - and it's not down in concrete that James won't be a full-back, but it's good to see he can play in other positions, going by the standards he's been intimating in training."