TALISMANIC loose-forward David March has told his York City Knights team-mates to go on and win promotion without him after seeing his two-match ban upheld.

The former Super League star had his appeal against the suspension rejected last night by a second Rugby Football League disciplinary panel, a decision which could end his season – as well as his time at Huntington Stadium, and potentially his career altogether.

The only way he will play again this year is if the Knights lose to Keighley in Sunday’s Champion-ship One qualifying semi-final and then beat either Hunslet or Oldham in the elimination semi-final that follows.

However, the 30-year-old has put aside his personal anguish and urged his team-mates to beat the Cougars and reach the grand final the quick way.

“The team is what everyone has to focus on,” March told The Press, hiding his obvious dejection. “At the beginning of the season promotion was our aim, and it still is.

“I missed the big Oldham game a few weeks ago after pulling out in the warm-up and the lads pulled through, so we know they can beat the top teams.

“We’ve got a lot of good players and everyone wants to play in these big games. We’ve got the players who can put a performance in and I’m sure they’ll be up for it. If we play like we can, we should win.

“I’ll be there cheering them on. Promotion is my goal as well. I’ve played all year working towards it.”

March is yet to agree terms with the Knights for 2010 and has been heavily linked with a move to join his brother, Paul, at play-off rivals Hunslet. Paul became the Hawks’ player-boss after being sacked by York in July.

Asked if this ban could signal the end of his Huntington Stadium career, David said: “It might end my career altogether. I might retire at the end of the year. I don’t know. But do I want to finish like this, with a ban?

“A lot of people have linked me with our Paul. That’s an option but we will have to see who takes over at York (chief executive John Guildford is leaving) and what division we’re in.”

Asked if he would prefer the Knights to lose on Sunday and reach the grand final the long way so he could play in the big showdown, he said: “I’d like to play in a grand final but I hope we don’t go the long way round to get there. If we lose on Sunday, we might face Hunslet and I wouldn’t want to miss a semi-final against my brother either.

“But for me, I want the lads to win on Sunday. We need to win and go straight to the final.”

March was also suspended for last season’s play-offs and the Knights went on to be knocked out at the first hurdle.

“I feel I’ve let the team down again,” he said, having been banned this time for making a dangerous throw in the game against Swinton – a charge he denied.

“I don’t think the tackle was that bad for me to miss two games. Some people won’t see it like that. Twelve months ago I got a three-match ban and it’s happened again. They’re going to stop me playing in the play-offs again.

“I’m gutted for myself but more for the lads. But their rugby careers go on and they’ve got a game to win at Keighley. I’ll be down at training to make sure everyone’s minds are focused. I feel I’ve had a right kick in the teeth, but the best thing for them to do is to beat Keighley.”

As for the tackle in question, he said: “It’s a funny tackle. I average 35 tackles a game and over 23 games that’s a lot of tackles. For one tackle to go wrong when there’s two of you pulling and shoving – it didn’t happen on purpose, it’s just how his body went.

“Loz Wildbore is in the tackle as well, but they (the panel) didn’t see it that way. They felt it was just me lifting a fully grown fella with one hand, which is a bit baffling.”