DOUBLE Player of the Year Ed Smith has committed his future to York City Knights - providing a huge and timely fillip for fans awaiting news on the club's takeover.

Head coach James Ford, who has previously declared his "excitement" at the prospective new owners' plans for the club, has confirmed that local favourite Smith, the joint-Press Player of the Year in the past two seasons, has put pen to paper on a provisional contract.

That deal will be triggered if and when the new ownership is rubberstamped and the club get the green light to continue in Kingstone Press League One next season.

Several more players have also been lined up, with a number having likewise agreed terms in principle. Some are from last year's squad but the majority are thought to come from outside.

Ford again would not say who the prospective new owners were but The Press believes the consortium is headed up by sports management consultant Jon Flatman, who has previously worked with Hull FC, Wakefield and the Rugby Football League.

Speculation is also mounting that Featherstone Rovers chairman Mark Campbell is a key backer behind the scenes.

Flatman and Campbell have both been unavailable for comment.

It is believed further meetings have taken place this week with City of York Council and York City as regards playing matches at the football club's Bootham Crescent ground next season as part of the council's community stadium scheme.

Talks about the compensation package given to the Knights for no longer having income streams from Huntington Stadium - which has been demolished to be redeveloped into the planned new arena for both clubs - are also thought to be ongoing.

The recruitment of second-row star Smith - seen as a potential future captain of his home-town club - suggests confidence is high that an agreement is close.

The news comes just as it seemed takeover talks had gone quiet again.

Said Ford: "I'm really pleased to tie Ed down again.

"He's shown improvement again over the last couple of years and has matured into one of our best players, if not the best, in that time.

"He's also taken on an awful lot of leadership responsibility. It's really pleasing to see someone I've worked with from a young age develop into one of the best back-rowers in the competition, if not the best.

"He's a player I feel confident in trusting and building a team and a culture around.

"I want to keep the best players from the area and he is obviously right up there.

"He's certainly very popular with the supporters as well as the playing group.

"I'm sure a lot of young players in the area aspire to be like him and play like him."

He added: "It's also testament to the environment at the club that, despite all the adversity (off the field), Ed wants to stay."

On Smith's captaincy credentials, Ford said: "The influence he has over the group is enormous for someone of his age. His influence in training and in general towards the group is very positive.

"He's intelligent. When he speaks it's right on the money and the group buys into what he says and what he does."

Smith, who turns 24 this month, shared the Press Player of the Year gong with Greg Minikin in 2015 and Kriss Brining this year - all three being homegrown lads, with Minikin and Brining going on to sign for Castleford and Salford respectively.

Ford, already cheered by plans in the new regime to bring back a youth system, reckons Smith can yet follow in his former team-mates' footsteps from Knights junior to Super League player.

"I do believe he has that ability, that potential," he said. "I hope Ed believes it too.

"If he continues to work as hard as he does, look after himself and embrace the culture of the club, I'm sure we'll see Ed move up the leagues - hopefully with York.

"We've been a player-centric club. Homegrown players have worked hard and improved and that has been rewarded by them moving up to Super League in the case of Greg and Kriss and attracting the attentions of other clubs, like with Ed Smith.

"It's a massive boost for me that he's chosen to stay and I hope it's a massive boost for the supporters as well."

When pushed on the prospective new owners, Ford said: "I speak to them regularly and the underlying message is positive.

"They're looking forward to forging positive relationships with all the parties in the area and helping to build a rugby league club we can be proud of and one that has its centre in the community.

"That message is really pleasing for me. We're singing from the same hymn sheet and hopefully in the not-too-distant future we can start working on getting York City Knights where they should be."