THE future of York City Knights boss James Ford has been thrown back into the spotlight following the growing speculation Tim Sheens is set to leave Hull KR imminently.

Ford, who has guided the Knights from League One to third in the Championship and currently the leading part-time team in the land, has been touted as a potential replacement for Sheens in the Craven Park hotseat.

Reports yesterday that the Aussie had already left the Super League strugglers proved premature as he took training today, but sources suggest meetings among the top brass had been planned, with rumours growing that he was likely to depart his role before their match against Wigan on Sunday. He is currently contracted until the end of the season.

James Webster and David Hodgson are Sheens' assistant coaches and, if he does leave, they may take the reins temporarily.

Ex-Hull KR and Toulouse coach Justin Morgan, formerly an assistant with the New Zealand national team who is now boss of the Kiwis' women's side, also arrived back in the UK at the weekend, leading to speculation he may be a candidate.

However, Ford remains heavily linked with the soon-to-be-vacant post.

The 36-year-old has so far said little on the speculation, other than to insist he was focusing on his job with York. Next up for his team is a big third-v-second match in the Betfred Championship on Saturday, against Toulouse Olympique.

He has been in charge of the Minster city side since October 2014 and is contracted until the end of 2021 after becoming the club's first-ever full-time boss in September last year.

When asked about the matter, Ford said: "The way I see it is I've got a massive job to do at York and I'm focusing all my energy on us achieving our goals.

"The players deserve 100 per cent of my focus and my attention, and the club does to.

"It's nice to be talked about but ultimately it does not mean anything.

"I'm focusing on making York the best they can be and the players the best they can be."