YORK City Knights boss James Ford has been nominated for the League One Coach of the Year award at this month's end-of-season presentation night - with two of his troops up for the Young Player of the Year accolade.

Full-back Ash Robson and dual-reg playmaker Liam Harris are the duo in the running for the Young Player gong.

The winners will be announced at the glittering Kingstone Press Championship and League One annual dinner in Manchester on Monday, September 18.

Chairman Jon Flatman was delighted for the trio and reckoned their nominations were credit to everyone on the coaching and playing staff.

"It's brilliant," he said. "It's tremendous credit to the individuals themselves but also to all the coaching staff and players at the Knights.

"It's great to see their efforts being recognised with such high-profile nominations, and I'm sure the three of them would agree that these nominations are on behalf of all the personnel at the club.

"We all know the job James has done and I think it says a lot for the club that we've got two nominations for the Young Player award."

Ford - a 2015 nomination but a surprise omission last year after guiding York to the play-offs despite a host of off-field struggles - will go up against Barrow boss Paul Crarey and Whitehaven player-coach Carl Forster. The Cumbrian pair have secured top-three places and Ford likewise a play-off berth with two games of the Super 8s to go.

There is no place in the shortlist for Paul Rowley, who has led moneybag full-timers Toronto Wolfpack to top spot and likely automatic promotion.

Former York Acorn junior Robson, a marquee off-season signing for the Knights when he arrived from Castleford, and Hull KR starlet Harris will go up against Lewis Young, of Newcastle Thunder, for the Young Player gong.

Toronto have two players nominated for the League One Player of the Year - hooker Bob Beswick and captain Craig Hall, who will go up against Barrow prop Joe Bullock.

In the Championship, Hull KR's Tim Sheens, Richard Marshall of Halifax, who won the award in 2015, and London Broncos’ Andrew Henderson are up for Coach of the Year.

Hull KR duo Shaun Lunt, the captain, and Chris Atkin, the former Swinton half-back, are nominated for Player of the Year along Toulouse star Mark Kheirallah.

In the running for Young Player are London Broncos’ Alex Walker, Brandon Moore of Halifax and Bradford’s James Bentley.

The 2017 Kingstone Press Championship and League 1 Awards shortlists in full:

Championship Player of the Year: Chris Atkin (Hull KR), Mark Kheirallah (Toulouse), Shaun Lunt (Hull KR).

Championship Coach of the Year: Andrew Henderson (London Broncos), Richard Marshall (Halifax), Tim Sheens (Hull KR).

Championship Young Player of the Year: Alex Walker (London Broncos), Brandon Moore (Halifax), James Bentley (Bradford).

League 1 Player of the Year: Bob Beswick (Toronto), Craig Hall (Toronto), Joe Bullock (Barrow).

League 1 Coach of the Year: Carl Forster (Whitehaven), James Ford (York City Knights), Paul Crarey (Barrow).

League 1 Young Player of the Year: Ash Robson (York City Knights), Lewis Young (Newcastle), Liam Harris (York City Knights).

Meanwhile, Ford hinted that a new signing or re-signing might be unveiled at the Knights' fans' forum tonight.

The event takes place at the team's training base at York St John University's Haxby Road sports campus, starting at 7pm.

Ford and on-field leader Tim Spears - who has already re-signed for 2018 - will take part in a question-and-answer session following the end of their training session.

Ford said of the forum, the third such event this year: “I think it’s great how the club off the field has progressed and they’re communicating with the fans in a really professional way.

"I’m glad to be part of it. I'm sure the fans will have questions for me and I’m sure Jon Flatman will have more positive news for them as well.”