Ford the new York City Knights chief - while Mark Applegarth returns as player/assistant-coach

Ford's promotion from player/assistant-boss has been widely expected since head coach Gary Thornton was told on Monday his contract would not be renewed.

Applegarth's return to York, though, will come as a major new fillip for supporters on a downer following the club's exit from the Championship One play-offs.

The 29-year-old forward first joined the Knights from Wakefield in 2008 and was the club's only ever-present in 2009, winning a clean sweep of Player of the Season awards and being named in the Championship One Team of the Year.

He was injured midway through the 2010 promotion campaign, after which he left for a spell in Australia before playing in the Championship with Batley. He already works with Ford at Wakefield College, where he is head coach of the rugby academy while completing a degree in sports performance coaching.

The Press understands a number of other players - from within and without the 2014 squad - have also agreed terms for next year, with announcements likely in the coming days.

Knights chairman John Guildford revealed Ford was not the only candidate for the job but hailed the retiring centre as a "potential future Super League coach".

Said Guildford: "I've been in talks with James Ford and others. It's a good job at York and quite a few people applied and we had to do due diligence.

"James will be a Super League coach at some stage - let's hope it's with the Knights. His record in developing players is excellent and, as a club, that is something we're buying into. The game is also moving on and he is au fait with new technology and techniques.

"He has played in Super League with Castleford and has played for Sheffield and Widnes and has knowledge from lots of sources."

Ford admitted he had a hard act to follow in Thornton, the newly-crowned Championship One Coach of the Year who led York to the title, albeit without winning promotion through the play-offs.

“I’d like to thank Gary for the guidance and support he’s given me and the squad," said Ford, who switched from reserves boss to first-team assistant 12 months ago.

“He gave me a great opportunity to be hands-on and have an in-depth role in how the team were set up and prepared.

“It was a good learning opportunity and good for the club as well. I wish him all the best in his next job – I’m sure he won’t be without a club for long and he'll be of major benefit to his next employers.”

Asked if he was ready for a top job just days after turning 32 and hanging up his boots, Ford said: “Age is just a number.

“I’m absolutely chuffed to be offered the role. I’ve got a strong affinity with York – I’ve been here for four seasons and they’ve helped me develop as a coach, from under-18s, 20s, reserves and with the first team."

On Applegarth, he added: “He’s a fantastic role model for all our younger players and he'll provide leadership and guidance around the club.

"Mark is also a very intelligent individual who will progress as a coach and help take this club onto the next level.”

Asked which of the current squad he would like to retain, Ford replied: “Ideally I would like to keep them all. They’re a very young team, inexperienced at the start of the year, but they’ve done really well.

"We were the best team in the league - we finished top. We maybe just lacked a bit of composure and knowhow in the play-offs. But these players will be a lot better for that experience.

"The club will come back stronger, develop players further, and try to go one step further in 2015.

“This league will be tougher, though. There are five quality teams coming down. The standard of the competition is going to improve. As such, our environment, standards and play have to improve.

“We’re all disappointed (about missing out on promotion). We now need everyone is the city to get behind us.

"I talk quite a lot about positivity. The team can feed off positive vibes – we need more of that."

The rest of the Knghts' backroom staff will remain - Mick Ramsden as reserves boss, Jamie Bell as head of performance, Jay Salter as conditioner, Jamie Carruthers as nutritionist, and Clubman of the Year Will Leatt in a new role of team manager.

Ford’s grounds for fresh start

YORK City Knights believe James Ford’s appointment as head coach fits in with a new holistic approach at the club - which includes bringing back a renewed youth structure and re-entering the reserves into league competition.

The club believe many of Ford’s strengths are in developing players and as such he will oversee an overhaul of a player pathway which includes forming a centre of excellence in place of the old scholarship scheme.

The move is seen as part of a new start for the club which also comprises a new home ground - sharing York City’s Bootham Crescent - in a new league structure, which provides a route into Super League again.

A club statement said: “It’s an exciting time for rugby league, and an exciting time for the York City Knights. Both are about to enter new eras and, with the system in place, the Knights look set to continue their off-field success, and also improve on it too.”

Chairman John Guildford said one reason Ford - a tutor and former rugby league development coach at Wakefield College - had been given the first-team reins was his record of bringing players through while in charge of the under-18s, U20s and reserves.

He explained the move fits in with the club’s policy of trusting in youth - a “necessity” due to financial constraints in Championship One.

The club statement said: “James Ford has established himself as a fan favourite during his time at the club and he has been successful in all his coaching capacities, most notably the development of the majority of the club’s first-team squad via the U20s programme.”

Guildford added: “James has a good record in developing players and, as a club, that’s something we’re buying into. What he did with the U20s reserves last year (in 2013) was very good. He got them into the (Reserve Championship) play-offs and that semi-final against Featherstone was excellent - they were so well-drilled.”

Last season, the reserves withdrew from the Reserve Championship due to costs, other teams dropping out and a gappy fixture list. They played several friendlies but the team had to be dropped mid-season when the number of available opponents dried up.

In 2015, the league is expected to be better funded and the Knights see the advantages of rejoining, with Mick Ramsden again taking the reins, assisted by Jay Salter.

Furthermore, the club’s former scholarship system is to be re-formed as a new centre of excellence aiming to “make a pathway from junior to senior rugby more seamless”.

The centre will see 14, 15 and 16-year olds “receiving first-class coaching, conditioning and welfare from all the club’s coaches”.

Additionally, the club’s partnership with York St John University will continue to grow. The club already have training facilities in place at the university’s sports ground and they will also now help to run the St John side, with Ramsden taking sessions.

The York College rugby league development team, meanwhile, continues in the Yorkshire Colleges first division, coached by Knights community manager Jack Stearman.

The club statement added: “The Knights are a shining example of a club that has, in the past, trusted in youth and ensured there is a pathway for talented local players to play at the highest level possible.

“Ben Dent, Kriss Brining, Ed Smith and Tyler Craig are just some of the players that have come through our development system and become vital first-team players, and with the new system in place it should mean we see even more young players coming through the ranks.”

Said Ford: “I want to see club develop further from top to bottom and have a pathway for North Yorkshire lads to follow in the footsteps the likes of Kriss Brining, Ed Smith and Harry Carter.”