JON FLATMAN says York City Knights "must be competitive on the field" – and is certain that head coach James Ford is the man to deliver success.

Flatman, a sports management consultant, heads up the consortium that has acquired the club from outgoing owner John Guildford, the takeover being officially confirmed late on Thursday night, the target date set out by the Rugby Football League.

The club are awaiting confirmation they will be allowed to play at Bootham Crescent as part of City of York Council's community stadium plan but were nevertheless quickly reinstated into Kingstone Press League One yesterday by the sport's governing body.

Flatman is to unveil the club's new ethos in the coming days but was quick to tell The Press that on-field success is high on the agenda – and to talk up rookie coach Ford.

He also confirmed that popular former captain Pat Smith was one of the players to have agreed to stay with his home-town club, joining brother and The Press Player of the Year Ed Smith in the 2017 squad.

Flatman said: "The club must be competitive on the field. We're in a position where we've got a quality coach with the ability to attract quality players.

"We will have a vibrancy around the club and an environment in which the development of players is key.

"We're hoping our ethos will attract the right type of people and the right type of players who will improve under James and his coaching staff."

Asked if they had always planned to keep Ford in charge, Flatman – who has previously worked with Hull, Wakefield and the RFL, said: "Absolutely 100 per cent.

"I've worked with some pretty special coaches, good people who have achieved good things in the game, and all my dealings with James to date have been in that bracket."

Ford, who took the reins two years ago after hanging up his boots, has guided the team to the play-offs in both seasons despite off-field strife.

Flatman said: "His player knowledge is excellent, his understanding of the game, his values, his personal beliefs, his drive, his enthusiasm – it's all extremely impressive.

"The club is fortunate to have him and, likewise, he's fortunate to be in a position where the owners believe in him.

"We look forward to watching James develop further as a coach because he's the right man to take the club forward on the field."

Asked about promotion hopes in the new consortium's maiden season at the helm, Flatman added: "We're not going to make rash predictions.

"We will be in a better position come February when we start the season to assess where we are and assess the budget and we will make targets accordingly.

"Internal performance targets are very much one for James, his staff and his players, but we're looking forward to sitting down with him and talking through the club's objectives."