JAMES FORD insists he is still prepared to "take on the challenge" as head coach of York City Knights - despite seeing two, if not three, of his best players depart the troubled club.

Skipper Jack Aldous, a stalwart of the past five seasons, last week signed for League One rivals Newcastle Thunder and vice-captain Mike Emmett followed him out of the exit door when old foes Keighley Cougars announced they had recruited the 29-year-old tough nut.

Try-machine Kriss Brining, York's top scorer over the past two seasons, is also widely expected to join Salford Red Devils, with fans left fearing a mass exodus as the off-field uncertainty rumbles on.

However, Ford - himself linked to a number of jobs elsewhere in recent weeks - remained hopeful of a swift resolution amid apparent takeover talks behind the scenes and said he was prepared to do a "rebuilding job" if he had to, assuming the club's future got sorted.

"The situation is what it is," he said.

"We've had a young squad and, if it's going to be a rebuilding job, I'm up for that and I believe I'm more than capable of doing that.

"If things move on quickly and we're able to bring in more players, then even better.

"I'm happy to take on the challenge either way.

"I would like to stay - I don't think I've ever intimated otherwise.

"I loved playing here - I wish I could have played longer - and the supporters have been great to me as a player and coach.

"I've loved coaching the players here as well and I want to continue doing that, so I don't see why I should want to move away."

Emmett became new Keighley coach Craig Lingard's fifth signing for 2017 since taking the reins at Cougar Park, whereas Ford has not been able to agree terms with a single player given the uncertainty around the Knights' future - not only where they will play next year but even if the club will still exist.

"In terms of players I earmarked to bring to the club, players I felt could take the club forward and take the team from being promotion contenders to promotion winners," he said. "Over the last couple of weeks, though, some of these players have signed elsewhere as well.

"They waited a long time to sign here so it's disappointing for me to have identified these players and talked to these players for it to then come to nothing. But the situation is what it is. I can only play with the cards I'm dealt."