THERE is no Betfred Super League release clause in James Ford’s new contract, his agent has revealed.

Ford signed a three-year deal with York City Knights last week to remain as the club’s head coach until at least the end of the 2024 season.

The York boss has been consistently linked with vacant coaching positions in Super League since taking the Knights to the Betfred League One title and the Betfred Championship play-offs in 2018 and 2019 seasons respectively.

When asked if there was a clause in the new deal permitting a move to a top-flight club, agent Craig Harrison told the Full 80 Minutes: “No, not in this one. (But) would Jon (Flatman, chairman) do the right thing? Probably, yes.

“He (Ford) is tied in and he wants to make it happen at York.

“Jon and the club have been great with him and I think that there is big things coming.”

Harrison added of the new deal: “It’s a great signing. It’s great for the club, for James and for his family.

"He’s got the potential to be an unbelievable coach.

“I think that Jon has done a great job with him and trusted him.

“Last year I saw a lot of comments where fans were putting the boot in, which wasn’t nice.

"After what he had done for them, I didn’t get it.

“Did he get some signings wrong? Yes. He’s still learning and he’s one of the youngest coaches around.

“He had some boot last year but he probably learned more than he did in the previous two years when everyone was telling him how good he was.”