IT wasn't so much a weary sigh as a shrug of acceptance from head coach James Ford after York City Knights' future was put back into some doubt this week.

After enduring homelessness throughout 2015 as the community stadium saga rumbled on, prior to the club being allowed into Bootham Crescent this year, fears of a repeat scenario returned when it was revealed by The Press that the club have yet to receive confirmation they can continue at York City's ground next year.

The Rugby Football League have said they need to know by June 30 that they'll have use of that venue, otherwise promotion to the Championship will not be allowed.

Special dispensation would also be needed again for the club to play League One matches back at either Clifton Park or Heworth ARLC, and there was no sign either way whether it would be forthcoming.

To some extent, the ball is now in City of York Council's court, as it is the local authority that has agreements with the Knights and City for rugby league to take place there before its community stadium is finally built.

"We're used to things like this now," said Ford when asked if the news had affected anyone in the playing camp.

"Our job is to focus on our training, playing and our plans for matchday. We're doing a pretty good job and we'll continue to do that."

The club were initially told they could play at Bootham Crescent until the new ground was built, with lodgings covered by the community stadium budget, but the council changed that to two years (2015 and 2016), presumably in case the new ground was never built and they'd have to stump up lodgings until the end of time.

On the current situation, a council statement read: “City of York Council has agreements with York City and York City Knights relating to the use of Bootham Crescent and officers are working positively with staff at both clubs to find a solution ahead of the new season next year.”

JAMES FORD was quick to praise Rob Smith for coming to the rescue last Sunday - joking the good doctor "wasn't quite as aggressive" as his two sons.

As reported by The Press, the regular match doctor at Knights games, Herman Knutt, didn't show for the clash with League One leaders Rochdale. (As it turned out, Dr Knutt arrived late on in the second half, following frantic phone calls before kick-off, having apparently been unaware his services were needed that day.)

As such, the game was in danger of being postponed given Rugby Football League rules about a doctor being present.

But Dr Smith was in the crowd, as usual, to watch his sons Pat and Ed play for their home-town team, and quick-thinking Knights staff, knowing he was a qualified doc, asked if he would don the red shirt and take hold of the medical box for the afternoon - and he obliged.

His services were called upon a couple of times during York's win - meaning he had to run onto the pitch in his summer shoes, having not had trainers with him - but all went smoothly.

"He was great, really professional - he was a credit to himself and his profession," said Ford.

"He took it in his stride and oozed composure and competence."

Added the Knights coach with a smile: "He didn't strike me as being quite as aggressive as Ed or Pat - but he'll do for me."

After the game, the Smith brothers were only too happy to have their pic taken with proud dad, club photographer Charlie Peart doing the honours. One for the family scrapbook.

HATS off, too, to Knights strength and conditioning coach Mark Helme.

Playing a third game in a week, all starting with an emotionally draining cup final loss, would not have been easy for the players, yet they flew into League One leaders Rochdale with surprising gusto last Sunday to storm to victory.

Indeed, the press contingent from Lancashire were taken aback during the match, commenting that it looked like their boys had played thrice in eight days and that York were the team who were rested and reinvigorated.

Obviously it's the players who deserve the most credit, but Helme must also have done something right.

There's likely to have been more of the same this week as the coaching staff try to ward off the effects of a comedown after the hectic week prior to the visit of traditional arch-rivals Hunslet.

On that score, boss Ford said: "The support staff are great. Mark Helme will collect data showing what we can and can't do - more likely can't do (after the efforts of last week).

"I love all that. It helps to keep people fit for longer."

STAYING on the general subject of that busy week, James Ford issued an apology for his criticism of hapless referee Tom Crashley.

The Wakefield warbler came in for all sorts of stick following his display in York's midweek win over Coventry, with boss Ford saying it "was an absolutely disgraceful performance" and that "a lot of decisions were just point-blank wrong".

But the head coach backtracked a bit this week, saying: "I maybe spoke out of turn and I sent an email to the referees' assessor apologising.

"They (referees) are doing a job that not many want to do, and it's tough out there."

KRISS BRINING'S touchdown against Rochdale put him clear in second place in the League One try-scoring charts.

Toulouse Olympique's Kuni Minga is first with 13, with Brining two behind and Toulouse's Tony Maurel one more further back.

A clutch of players have nine tries - Jason Tali (Doncaster), Hamish Barnes (Keighley), Jono Smith (Rochdale), Danny Hulme (Toulouse) and Mark Kheirallah (Toulouse). This list is for league games only.