SPORT: Confirmed - James Ford leaves York City Knights
The 40-year-old is joining Super League side Wakefield Trinity after 7 years in charge
York City Knights can today confirm that Head Coach James Ford has departed his role with the club after being granted a release and will take up an Assistant Coach role with Super League club Wakefield Trinity.
Ford initially arrived at the Knights in 2011 as a player on loan from Widnes Vikings and made over fifty-seven appearances for the Club, earning Heritage Number 1710.
After spells as an under-20s coach and first-team assistant with the Knights, he became the men’s Head Coach in 2015.
The 40-year-old departs the club with a coaching record, including the aborted 2020 season, of 131 wins, 71 losses and 3 draws from 209 matches, giving him a win rate of 62%, second only to Richard Agar (69% win rate from 36 matches).
On his departure, Ford said: “This is probably the hardest interview I’m going to do as York Head Coach but possibly the most important one.
“I’d like to start initially by thanking the players for their efforts over the last eight years and I include every single one of them in that, whether they know or believe it or not. I think the world of every single one of them and I’m very proud to have coached them and, hopefully, helped them in some way.
“I’d also like to thank my support staff for their incredible work ethic and drive. They’ve been absolutely key and central to the progress the Club has made. Without them I don’t believe the Club would be where it is today.
“The rest of the staff at the Club, they’ve been awesome and I’ve absolutely loved every minute I’ve had at the Club. Being in the office and interacting with the staff there, the owners and the volunteers… I’ve loved every minute of it. The Club wouldn’t be where it is today without you guys.
“And then, we move onto the supporters. I think it’s fair to say that we’ve a pretty special relationship with each other. We’ve had some tough times and we came through those tough times to enjoy some really good times. Unfortunately, I couldn’t quite get the job done for you and I assure you it wasn’t through a lack of effort! I think we’ll all agree that the Knights are in a really strong position to kick on and take that next step.
“The last thing I’d ask of everybody, the staff I’m leaving behind, the players, the supporters is to keep doing what you do. The new Head Coach will love you all for it and, together, you’ve got a real chance of taking the next step of making a Grand Final and challenging for promotion.
“There’s no real standout reason as to why I’ve decided to leave the Club. The relationship I have with Clint is strong and I believe in the direction he’s taking it. I think his leadership is certainly going to help the Club take that next step.
“The relationship between everyone at the Club is really strong and, in some ways, I’m really sad to be leaving.
“But every coach’s journey at a club comes to an end. Players and coaches come and go but the Club is still there. It’s in safe hands and I am desperate to see York continue improving and become a Super League club in the very near future.
“Thank you very much for your support over the last eight seasons. It’s been an absolute pleasure.”
'Everyone at the club is behind him'
Chairman Clint Goodchild added: “First of all, I would like to thank James for his efforts as Head Coach at the Club. He has been a figure of stability at the Knights and has worked through some incredibly tough periods, especially in the early part of his Head Coaching career.
“I personally see James Ford as a future Head Coach of the England national side and I believe that this is simply the next step on that journey for him. Everyone at the club is behind him in this regard.
“James leaves with our best wishes and he will always be welcome back at the Knights.”
Everyone at the Knights would like to thank James Ford for his efforts during his long tenure with the Club. One of a group central to the club’s turnaround in recent years, he will always be remembered fondly by Knights supporters and he will always be welcome back at the LNER.
The Club are currently in conversations with a handful of potential replacements and we will be announcing a new Men’s Head Coach before the end of the month.