JAMES FORD has no complaints regarding the nominations for the league's big end-of-year awards but is disappointed a few of York City Knights' "outstanding prospects" were overlooked for the Young Player accolade.

The contenders for the annual Kingstone Press Championship and League One accolades have been announced, with moneybags Toulouse Olympique dominating the League One shortlists after a season in which they have remained unbeaten with one Super 8s fixture to go.

The Player of the Year award is between Toulouse trio Mark Kheirallah, Johnathon Ford and Kuni Minga, while team-mate Clement Boyer is also up for the Young Player accolade, against Danny Yates of Rochdale Hornets and Vincent Rennie of Newcastle Thunder.

Olympique boss Sylvain Houles is also nominated for Coach of the Year along with Paul Crarey and Alan Kilshaw, whose Barrow and Rochdale teams are battling for second place behind the French outfit.

It is the first time the Knights have not had a nomination since they were relegated to League One in 2013, despite the team having again guaranteed a play-off berth amid another year of off-field strife.

Asked if he felt hard done by, Ford said: "Well, those were the three I put forward for Player of the Year and I nominated two of the three for Coach of the Year, along with Jermaine Coleman of London Skolars, so I don't think the RFL are too far out.

"In terms of Young Player, I was disappointed one or two of our outstanding young prospects weren't considered, but some of them don't quite fulfil the criteria in terms of age.

"You have to be 21 before the season starts and people like Harry Carter (who turned 22 just 11 days before the season kicked off) and Kriss Brining (who turned 22 earlier in the winter) don't quite make that criteria.

"For me they've both had outstanding seasons and deserve nominations of some sort. I don't think the players in that shortlist are near the calibre of some of the younger players we've got.

"But they have to draw the age boundary somewhere, which is far enough."

Asked if Toulouse deserved so many nominations given the considerably bigger budget and number of full-timers they have compared to League One opposition, Ford said: "They're an outstanding team made up of excellent individual players coached by a great coach.

"People should also acknowledge the spirit in which they play. They beat Hunslet at the death on Saturday and gave them a guard of honour to acknowledge their efforts.

"They're a good team but also a team of sporting character."

Toulouse had also given the Knights a guard of honour when Ford's troops put up a brave show in defeat after travelling with only 15 players for their Super 8s match at the end of July, at the height of the off-field trouble and an injury crisis.

Ford added: "Maybe you could consider how many are full-time or internationals but that's not their fault. They should not be penalised for being experienced or excellent. Has Johnathon Ford been one of the best players in the league? Yes he has, and so has Mark Kheirallah and Kuni Minga, regardless of what they get paid."

Ford also backed the coach award shortlist. He said: "Toulouse are unbeaten, Barrow have improved massively and Alan Kilshaw has done a remarkable job at Rochdale.

"Toulouse and Barrow have spent big and Rochdale have been backed by (dual-reg with) Warrington, but you can't take anything away from those three clubs. They certainly deserve their nominations."

The Kingstone Press Championship and League One awards shortlists

Championship Player of the Year: Mickey Higham (Leigh), Dominic Brambini (Batley) and Misi Taulapapa (Featherstone).

Championship Young Player of the Year: Jordan Baldwinson (Featherstone), James Cunningham (London Broncos), Josh Guzdek (Dewsbury).

Championship Coach of the Year: Neil Jukes (Leigh), John Kear (Batley), Andrew Henderson (London Broncos).

League One Player of the Year: Mark Kheirallah (Toulouse), Jonathan Ford (Toulouse), Kuni Minga (Toulouse).

League One Young Player of the Year: Clement Boyer (Toulouse), Vincent Rennie (Newcastle), Danny Yates (Rochdale).

League One Coach of the Year: Sylvain Houles (Toulouse), Paul Crarey (Barrow), Alan Kilshaw (Rochdale).

The winners will be announced at the league's annual black-tie dinner in Leeds on Monday.