JAMES FORD has hailed the return to York City Knights of Ross Divorty as a massive timely boost.

As revealed by The Press, Wales international second-row Divorty signed a short-term deal with his hometown League One club last night.

He has spent the past nine years gracing the Championship with Featherstone and Halifax since starring for the Knights as a teenager in 2008, before being released by mutual agreement by Fax as the travelling up and down the Pennines clashed with his teaching commitments at Osbaldwick Primary School.

One down side is the fact Divorty will not see the season out or be around for any promotion play-offs should York get there as he goes to Australia in August. But head coach Ford said: "I'm really pleased to be able to bring in a player of Ross's calibre.

"He will bring a lot of experience into an already talented forward pack.

"He's also a good person and will fit into the group well and help the team move in the right direction.

"It's a timely boost after we lost Ryan Mallinder (after suffering a broken leg). A player like Ryan leaves a big hole and hopefully we've managed to fill that with Ross."

He added: "I'm aware he plans to go to Australia and it was probably an issue for us at the start - I did not want to limit other people's game time knowing we'd need everyone at the end of the season and knowing Ross would not be here then.

"But what this does do is give us a quality player and a quality person to play while we're getting there and getting people like Matty Dale fit and up to speed."

The Press understands Ford first spoke to Divorty about returning to his hometown club last year before he opted to remain at The Shay.

"Talks with Ross have been ongoing for a while but we could not get the deal over the line," confirmed the head coach.

"We were now in a position where we needed that strength, that cover, in the back row, especially with the congested fixtures around the corner.

"With Ryan being injured we're a bit lighter in there and will be for a while. We're also waiting for Matty Dale to get back (to fitness), so it's a real boost to be able to bring in a player of Ross's ability. He's an established Championship player."

Asked if Divorty's teaching career could also hamper his ability to commit fully to York as it did Halifax, Ford, himself a tutor, said: "The demands of his work in education and the travelling over to Halifax really impacted on one another. Travelling time (to training) ate into his preparation time for teaching, and vice versa. That two or three hours' travelling is now out of the equation at York."

Former New Earswick All Blacks junior Divorty is ineligible for tomorrow's iPro Sport Cup final but could make his bow in the League One visit of Coventry on Wednesday night.