CASTLEFORD Tigers have appointed Lee Radford as their new head coach from next year amid speculation linking York City Knights' James Ford to the role.

It was revealed earlier this month that Castleford coach Daryl Powell would be heading to Warrington Wolves at the end of this season.

Since that announcement, numerous names have been linked to the vacant position, including York's Ford, whose current contract runs until the end of the year.

The Knights boss is highly regarded by many in the sport after leading York to the League 1 title in 2018 and sealing a third-placed finish in the Championship the following season.

Ford was previously heavily linked to the Hull Kingston Rovers job in 2019.

However Castleford have named former Hull FC coach Radford as the successor to Powell on a two-year deal.

Radford led the Black and Whites to back-to-back Challenge Cup victories in 2016 and 2017 before his sacking last year.