Here's Jonny! Veteran half-back set to stay at York City Knights - with a new role too

Presley is the latest player to commit to the Knights on the assumption the planned takeover goes through and the team are given the green light to continue in Kingstone Press League One.

Head coach James Ford – underlining his confidence that the new-look club will soon get the go-ahead – says the 32-year-old half-back will become a player/assistant-coach in a backroom team which sees Chris Spurr continue as assistant-boss, Will Leatt carry on as team manager/assistant-coach and Mark Helme remain as strength and conditioning coach.

Ford refused to confirm speculation, as revealed in The Press yesterday, that talented teenage half-backs Harry Tyson-Wilson and Danny Sowerby had agreed to join the ranks.

Yet he did say the club were set to bring in "young halves and hookers" – and that they will be able to learn directly off Presley.

Ford said: "Jonny's agreed to stay and he will join the coaching staff too. I'm really pleased about that.

"We all know what he has done as a player but he's also great with young people; very calm and composed.

"He'll be good on match-day and great for the young halves and hookers that we're planning to bring to the club. I'm sure he'll help to facilitate their development.

"He's someone I have trust in. That's important for a coaching team – you need to challenge each other but at the same time you have to trust each other.

"I've known Jonny a long time and he's someone I think will bring a lot to the coaching team."

Spurr, who had two spells at York as a player and previously assisted Paul Cooke at Doncaster, joined the Knights in August this year after the then player/assistant Mark Applegarth had to give up coaching responsibilities due to work commitments.

Ford said: "Chris came into the club last season and brought some much-needed experience and guidance and I'm looking forward to continuing that relationship.

"He works with the Rugby Football League (community department) during the day and is in and around coaching all the time. That will really help us develop some of the exciting young players we're planning to bring in."

On Leeds Beckett University lecturer Helme and local boy Leatt, Ford added: "Mark did a good job last year with, at times, limited access to facilities (due to the redevelopment of the training base Nestle Rowntree Park).

"With the facilities completed, we're expecting the team to be in even better physical condition than they were last year.

"Mark has moved on from Wakefield College (where Ford also teaches) and is lecturing at Leeds Beckett while doing a PhD in strength and conditioning. He's also worked with Wakefield and Castleford and to have someone of that experience and that academic standard is great.

"It's also really important for us to have the right connections to the city of York and Will gives us that.

"He's a good coach and he also has an excellent understanding of the area and of what we need to do to continue rebuilding relationships with the community. He's another one I have immense trust in."

Leatt's younger brother George is also a match-day assistant, while mum Dawn and dad Dave help with video material.

Ford said: "I'm really pleased Will will stay and help us rebuild this club the right way with the right ethos. Will and his family are the right kind of people."

Hull-based Neil Hinchsliff, who arrived as an assistant-coach in July 2015 from Newcastle's boot room, will no longer be involved.

Ford explained: "Neil runs his own building business and the time constraints are quite demanding as a professional coach. I didn't want to put too much stress on him as I know he works incredibly hard as it is.

"We want to thank him for his efforts, at times during very difficult periods at the club. Without Neil we wouldn't have got through the season. It's great to have a smiley face around the place and we'll miss him."