SOUGHT-AFTER head coach James Ford has signed a new contract keeping him at York City Knights for another three years.

Owner Jon Flatman had previously said the new regime at the Knights "absolutely 100 per cent" had planned to keep Ford in charge following their takeover a month ago, and they have now backed that up by tying him down until the end of 2019.

The Press understands the 34-year-old - who was linked to jobs at Wakefield, Featherstone, Sheffield and Keighley in recent months but always maintained a wish to stay in the Minster city should off-field uncertainty get resolved - was offered an improved deal.

Said Flatman: "There's a commitment to ensure we've got a quality product and a competitive team on the field, and the head coach obviously plays a key role in making that happen.

"James has a big future in the game and we wanted to ensure that he plays a big part in York City Knights' future.

"His relationship with players and other people in the game is excellent and the club will continue to build on and off the field with James leading the football department."

Ford, a former Sheffield, Castleford, Widnes and York centre, took over the reins at the Knights after hanging up his playing boots at the end of 2014, and has twice led the team to League One play-off semi-finals, plus last year's League One Cup final, despite two years of off-field strife.

A tutor at Wakefield College outside of rugby, he had first joined the Minster city outfit in April 2011, going on to score 23 tries in 57 appearances for the club, latterly combining playing with coaching the Knights reserves and being a number two to then boss Gary Thornton.

Said Flatman: "James brings integrity and vibrancy to the organisation and those are key values for the club moving forward."

Ford's backroom staff for 2017 comprises veteran playmaker Jonny Presley as a new player/assistant-coach, former centre Chris Spurr, who continues as number two having joined the boot room last summer, Will Leatt, who remains as team manager/assistant-coach, and Mark Helme, the strength and conditioning coach.

Added Flatman: "It's that performance unit that is vital to taking the club forward and developing each and every player as well as the team as a whole."