YORK City Knights achieved a memorable clean sweep of awards at the Kingstone Press Championships presentation ceremony last night - the most noteworthy being Gary Thornton's Coach of the Year gong.

His accolade came just a day after he was axed as Knights boss following their exit from the Championship One promotion play-offs. It also followed a wave of support from fans which led him to pen an open letter urging them to continue their "fantastic support" of the club.

Thornton was joined on the winners' podium by three of his Knights players.

Skipper Jack Lee was named the Championship One Player of the Year, beating to the award team-mates Pat Smith and Ben Reynolds, who had also been shortlisted, as well as Gateshead skipper Jason Payne.

Top top it off, Reynolds and James Saltonstall were jointly named the league's Young Player of the Year.

As reported, York had no fewer than seven players named in the Championship One Team of the Year - more than half of the 13-strong 'All Stars' line-up. They were Lee, Reynolds, Smith, Saltonstall, Colton Roche, Ben Dent and Jack Aldous.

It followed a season in which the Knights won the Championship One title, bouncing back from relegation.

However, with the sole promotion place this year going to the Grand Final winners, Thornton has been told he won't be offered a new contract when his current two-year deal expires this month.

His assistant, James Ford, is widely expected to be given the job, but there is yet to be confirmation from the club.

It has long been known that Lee is also leaving the club, having agreed a deal with arch-rivals Hunslet, who knocked the Knights out of the play-offs on Sunday.

Championship table-toppers Leigh were other big winners on the night. Martyn Ridyard was the Championship Player of the Year and Ryan Brierley the Young Player of the Year for the second season running, while the Centurions also took two club awards.

2014 Kingstone Press Championship Award Winners

Championship Player of the Year: Martyn Ridyard (Leigh)

Championship Young Player of the Year: Ryan Brierley (Leigh)

Championship Coach of the Year: Paul Cooke (Doncaster)

Championship One Player of the Year: Jack Lee (Knights)

Championship One Young Player of the Year: Ben Reynolds (Knights) and James Saltonstall (Knights)

Championship One Coach of the Year: Gary Thornton (Knights)

Championship Club of the Year: Leigh

Championship One Club of the Year: Gloucestershire All Golds

Championships Foundation of the Year: Leigh