YORK City Knights have a new coach for their community work around the region - and he happens to be a legend of rugby league.

Papua New Guinea hero Stanley Gene, who enjoyed a stellar 15-year career in England after bursting to prominence at the 1995 World Cup, has come on board as community coach, working with the Knights Foundation, the charitable arm of the League One club.

And, while it represents a shift in emphasis for the former Hull KR, Huddersfield, Hull and Bradford Bulls favourite from first-team coaching to school work, the man himself can't wait to get started.

It also means a quick return to the sport for the former Hull KR academy coach, who has been boss of Newcastle Thunder for the last two years but was effectively moved on by the Tynesiders at the end of a disappointing 2015 season when his contract was not renewed.

"I'm really looking forward to it," said the 41-year-old, whose coaching CV also includes being in charge of Papua New Guinea in the 2010 Four Nations Series.

"It's something different but it's a new challenge.

"I already did a lot of this work - I went into schools and community clubs when I was playing as a coach. I worked with Hull KR's academy for three years.

"It will be good. I will learn from the Knights Foundation and from the kids and hopefully they can bounce off me and learn off me."

Gene, who captained PNG at the 2008 World Cup, arrives after the Knights Foundation won funding via the Sky Try scheme, a project which will see more than 2,500 youngsters in schools and community clubs around the area benefit from coaching and festival opportunities. He joins manager Neil Gulliver and delivery manager Adam Prentis in the Foundation team.

He added: "The role opens a different door. I like the hands-on work when coaching at any level. Getting to see kids enjoying it in schools, playing and getting better - it's what I do anyway."

The role does not involve joining James Ford's first-team staff but Gene says he would be happy to help if needed.

"It's purely to work in schools and community clubs and with what Neil Gulliver (Knights Foundation manager) wants me to do," said Gene.

"I know James Ford well - he's a very good coach and a nice guy. If he needs any help I'm there to put a hand in but he's doing very well."

Asked if he sought a quick return to any first-team scene in professional rugby league, Gene, who lives the York side of Hull, said: "Most clubs are into their pre-seasons now and are ready to go.

"For me, York is close to home and this is a new role I will enjoy and hopefully the kids will enjoy it too.

"I travelled to Newcastle, three hours there and back, for a couple of years. York are a very good club and the city is great, and hopefully I can help youngsters enjoy playing and to bring more people to watch the club."

Newcastle, bolstered by a takeover, had targeted the top-five play-offs in League One this year but finished down in eighth - the lowest of the eight clubs who had realistic hopes of promotion - after which Gene's contract was not renewed.

"I've never said a bad word about Newcastle," he said. "They wanted to part company and for me it's a long drive up there. It's a great club and there are a lot of positives from my time there. I wish them all the best.

"League One this year was a very tough competition, as York know. You had five clubs from the division above who had come down. Next year will be tough as well. The teams that are there have recruited well.

"We probably didn't achieve what we wanted to but at the end of the day as a coach you have to move on if they want someone else.

"I'm really looking forward to my new role now and to getting involved at York."