COACH James Ford has brought his York City Knights squad up to a round dozen after announcing the signings of Josh Tonks and Liam Cunningham.

The new man in the hot-seat at the rugby league outfit is continuing to move quickly as he looks to build a sqaud capable of challenging for Kingstone Press League One glory in 2015.

With more signings promised this week, Ford unveiled Tonks, the 23-year-old who played a handful of games for the Knights last season after arriving as a free agent from Dewsbury, and former Hull academy centre Cunningham, who played nine times for Doncaster in the Championship last term.

Building a young squad which will aim to play with pace and aggression, Ford said he was delighted to have secured the latest pieces in his promotion jigsaw.

"Liam has lots of quality and he is a good acquisition for York," he said of 24-year-old Cunningham. "He's young and he's a very attacking player. Having met with him, he comes across as a first class person. He wants to work hard and improve.

"He will bring a lot of aggression and toughness to our edge. He's versatile and can play centre or in the back row and he will give us a bit there. We have identified a type of player that we want. They are young, attacking and get quickly to the ball. Liam fits that bill."

Tonks, meanwhile, impressed during his short stint last season - gaining a place in the Championship One team of the week following the 38-28 win over London Skolars and scoring a try in the 34-20 victory over Gateshead Thunder.

Ford added: "Josh was a new signing last year. He came in at the back end of the season and fitted really well into the group. He is another really tough player and he just gives us a different proposition in the back row.

"There's a lot of football in him. He's a skilful back rower and he is also slightly different from one or two other players we have had in the past.

"He had been at Dewsbury. He is still a young player."

Having taken over the reins from Gary Thorton, whose contract was not renewed following the Knights failure to make the Championship One Grand Final, Ford is quickly putting his own mark on a growing squad.

He explained: "I am looking for athletic players who want to improve and help move the club forward. My philosophy of rugby is that when we have got the ball we are going to attack teams and, defensively, we will be coming to get teams and will be aggressive. We will be an interesting team to watch.

"I want a team that can grow and develop and that the York public can connect with. We have a fantastic opportunity for us in going to Bootham Crescent and then to the new stadium. We want to take some momentum there."