FORMER York City Knights centre Chris Spurr has rejoined the club as an assistant to boss James Ford - but full-back Rich Wilkinson has headed out the exit door.

Spurr's appointment was made after new work commitments restricted player/assistant-coach Mark Applegarth from committing the necessary time to the off-field aspects of his role.

Wilkinson, meanwhile, has quit the club having struggled in recent weeks to nail down a shirt.

Spurr, 36, made nine appearances in the Knights' back line at the end of the 2004 season, scoring four tries, and another 41 appearances from mid-2006 to the end of 2007, scoring 15 tries.

He had made his pro debut for Featherstone in 1998 and went on to play for Batley, York, Dewsbury, Rochdale and Doncaster, before hanging up his boots at the end of 2013 and becoming an assistant to the Dons' then boss Paul Cooke.

He left the Keepmoat when Cooke departed by mutual consent in May last year but remained heavily involved in the sport due to his job in the community department of the Rugby Football League, with whom he has taken coaching badges.

"Chris is very experienced as a former player and assistant at Doncaster to Paul Cooke," said Ford, Spurr having made his match-day bow in Sunday's defeat to Hunslet at Bootham Crescent.

"Mark has a new job through the day and he's struggling to commit to York's coaching as we would like, and I was looking to bring somebody in to support the work he did.

"Chris has been there and done that in rugby. He's a clever man and hopefully he will bring some fresh ideas in."

Wilkinson joined the Knights in the off-season from Doncaster and, after Ford switched him from half-back to full-back, he made an eye-catching start to life at Bootham Crescent.

However, following an arm injury and an off-field breach of discipline, the 22-year-old struggled to regain a regular place in the team, and recently fell further down the pecking order after James Haynes returned from a knee reconstruction.

He is travelling around the world at the end of the season and has decided to cut short his contract.

He was still at Sunday's game against Hunslet, watching from the stands alongside fellow Hull-based player Brett Turner, who likewise left the Knights earlier this year.

Said Ford: "Rich no longer wishes to commit to the club. He's going travelling at the end of the year.

"James Haynes has come into the team and played well and has showed great resilience and mental strength to come back from injury. We're in a difficult period and we need people with that kind of mentality.

"If Rich is not wanting to roll his sleeves up and fight for the club he can leave and do what he wants."

Wilkinson played 12 times for York, scoring six tries and five goals.