Knights’ full focus on Blackpool

9:14am Friday 25th April 2008

YORK City Knights player-boss Paul March says his side's full focus will be on beating Blackpool tomorrow - not on the Dwain Chambers friendly the following day.

The media spotlight has fallen on the Knights in the run-up to the reserve grade friendly against Castleford on Sunday, a game which has been specially arranged for former Olympic sprinter Chambers, who is on trial with the Tigers, to get his first taste of match action.

But March says the first-team squad's concentration cannot waver from tomorrow's National League Two encounter as they seek their first win of 2008.

To that end he says no-one in the squad for the trip to Blackpool will play on Sunday - at least not until the three points are in the bag. That includes fans' favourite Lee Mapals, the speedster who has been touted as Chambers' first-ever direct opponent.

"I haven't had much to do with the Cas game," said March. "Paul Higgins and Barry Gargan (reserve/academy coaches) are running all that.

"A lot of the talk is about that game but the lads and myself and James Ratcliffe (assistant-coach) are concentrating on tomorrow, which is more important.

"It's nice to have that game on Sunday - it will put York City Knights in the national media.

"But we're all focused on one thing, and that's to win at Blackpool. If we get that win, we can all go to the Jungle on Sunday and have a fun day."

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