"OBVIOUSLY I'm really disappointed he's moving on."

So declared head coach James Ford after vice-captain Mike Emmett followed skipper Jack Aldous out of the exit door at crisis club York City Knights.

Emmett, after one season at Bootham Crescent, has penned a deal with Kingstone Press League One rivals Keighley, becoming Craig Lingard’s fifth new signing since replacing Paul March as head coach at Cougar Park. Conversely, the Knights, with their future still uncertain, have not been in a position to sign anyone on for 2017.

"I really enjoyed working with him and felt he brought a lot to the team on and off the field," said Ford of the 29-year-old, who had been seen as a key recruit 12 months ago, adding much-needed grit to the forward pack. 

"I'd like to think I have helped him improve in one or two areas but that has probably more to do with him and his attitude and how he approached training. He raised standards - he's a really good player and an even better leader."

Aldous, on his departure to Newcastle Thunder, said he could not wait any longer for the off-field strife at York to get sorted.

Ford suggested Emmett had similar concerns. "I am disappointed but I understand why he's gone," he said. 

"A few clubs have been interested in him for a while. He's put it off for as long as he could, which shows how much he enjoyed it here, but he's got a young family. I tried to get him to postpone a decision but I can understand and appreciate he has to make that call and do the right thing for him and his family.

"I wish him all the best. If we do play against Mike next year we will be coming up against a really tough player."

Loose-forward Emmett played 27 of the Knights' 29 games this year, more than anyone else, scoring seven tries.

Prop Aldous, meanwhile, played 26, taking his tally of York appearances to 128 in five near ever-present seasons.

Said Ford of the 25-year-old: "I spoke to Jack a number of times. I knew Newcastle had been keen on him for a couple of years and I was devastated when Jack decided he'd waited long enough.

"He's been a great player and a great leader for me. He carried the team at times last year and he's shown this year again what a player he is.
"Newcastle have a great signing. 

"But rugby league is a funny game and I'm hoping we've not seen the last of Jack in a York shirt."

A statement on the Cougars' website said of their new recruit: "Keighley Cougars can announce the signing of Mike Emmett from the York City Knights.

"Emmett arrives at Cougar Park following a single season at Bootham Crescent in a year in which the Knights made the iPro Sport Cup final before off-field matters derailed their season, which eventually ended in a play-off defeat to Toulouse in which only 12 players could take to the field.

"Prior to that, the prop (sic) spent four years with Doncaster, helping the club to promotion from League One in 2012 and a shock fourth place finish in the Championship in 2014 as Paul Cooke’s Dons side stunned the second tier after starting the year as one of the favourites for relegation."