No new contract for coach March

Paul March became the Knights' player coach in 2008

York City Knights' player-coach Paul March has been told he will not be offered a new contract for next season.

But he could stay on in a solely playing capacity following his suspension from duties for a breach of club discipline.

General manager Ian Wilson told BBC Radio York: "We feel that we need to find somebody who can give us a little bit more.

"We feel we need somebody with a bit more experience to take us forward."

Wilson added: "Paul's fine on the field and great in the dressing room with the team spirit but when you're head coach there's a lot more that you need to do behind the scenes and we feel we need somebody with a little bit more experience to take us forward.

"But there's a long way to go yet this season and it could still be a promotion season. There's a lot of water to go under the bridge yet and you never know what might happen five or six months down the line."

I understand that some of the supporters will be a bit angry and frustrated that we've made that decision but we need them to get behind us now

Knights general manager Ian Wilson

The news comes following the club's decision to suspend March, director of rugby James Ratcliffe and players David March, Paul Hughes and Rob Kelly from first-team duties for this weekend's game at Blackpool after complaints following a function at Leeds Rhinos last week. Danny Ratcliffe has been suspended until the end of the month.

Wilson said that decision had not been taken lightly by the club.

"It's obviously disappointing. It's something we didn't really expect to happen but it's happened now.

"It's been seriously considered and we felt the action we took was appropriate.

"I understand that some of the supporters will be a bit angry and frustrated that we've made that decision but we need them to get behind us now.

"We are still second in the league. We get a win at Blackpool and we've got two home games towards the end of the month and it could be a successful month."