HEAD coach James Ford has not ruled out further eye-catching signings at York City Knights after confirming notable recruit Andy Ellis will go straight in for his debut tomorrow - alongside another surprise newcomer.

Ellis, the former Super League star and Championship Player of the Year, only trained for the first time with his new team-mates on Thursday night but has been named in the squad for the League One visit of South Wales Ironmen (3pm).

Also included is Hull KR packman George Milton, who was Doncaster's "Forward of the Year" last season before signing for the Championship big guns.

Milton arrives as the first recruit of a hastily arranged new dual-registration partnership with the Robins which replaces the Knights' brief agreement with Featherstone.

Moreover Ford has intimated yet further squad strengthening is on the cards as the new-look Knights continue the rebuilding process under the new owners, backed by an apparent increase in support off the field.

"I think the supporters can see the club are doing their best to support me in taking the team forward," said Ford, referring to Thursday's high-profile signing of Ellis.

"The club in turn are recognising the supporters are getting behind us and that's fantastic.

"They want to help us move forward by investing in a person like Andy Ellis - and there are other discussions ongoing about additional strengthening.

"It's got to be the right player and right person for the group, but I'm really pleased the club and supporters are supporting the team as they are doing."

Asked to clarify if that meant notable signings were imminent, Ford said: "Conversations are being had and there are positive signs. I'm pleasantly surprised by the intimations I'm getting from the club about strengthening the team."

Ellis will replace Pat Smith in tomorrow's squad - Smith having been doubtful anyway after suffering a rib injury against Barrow, when he needed on-field treatment before continuing.

"It came in his first stint and he showed toughness to play on through that in a really physical game," said Ford. "It's not gone unnoticed what Pat did for the team up there."

Ellis, who will share hooking duties with Harry Carter, has not played pro rugby since starring for Featherstone in the Middle Eights against Super League opposition last autumn.

Added Ford: "Whether he starts we will have to wait and see but I'm sure he'll be able to drop into either role pretty comfortably.

"He looked very good (in training). He's really keen on fitness anyway and he's been training over the winter and playing a few amateur games around Hull. He certainly didn't look out of sorts."

Meanwhile, Ford has warned that the rebranded South Wales club will not be the pushovers they have been in recent years, even though they are awaiting their first victory of the year.

The Ironmen lost narrowly to North Wales in pre-season - the Crusaders going on to knock the Knights out of the League One Cup last month after equalising in the last minute to take the tie to extra time - before falling 24-16 and 18-4 to London Skolars and Oxford respectively in the cups, and 27-10 to Whitehaven, a side relegated from the Championship, in last week's league opener.

"They've had some decent results and they pushed Whitehaven close," Ford reasoned.

"They've got some physicality about them and Paul Emanuelli has a good long kicking game. They've tidied up their shape and are certainly much further on than in previous years.

"There will be absolutely no element of us underestimating them. We'll have to start really positively. We've focused on areas we need to improve and if we do that I'm sure the performance will be good."

The Knights are also awaiting their first win over League One opposition this term. They beat amateurs Egremont in the Challenge Cup but, in addition to the defeat to North Wales, they fell at Barrow in last week's league opener.

Asked if the pressure was building to break that duck, Ford said: "Not at all.

"Our focus is on performance. We've lost one league game away at Barrow - it's certainly not time for that kind of rubbish to be spoken about.

"We're obviously disappointed to lose the but this team will improve and when we do we will start picking up plenty of wins."