JAMES RATCLIFFE has urged his old York City Knights charges to go on to play-off success this season – after being dramatically sacked as their head coach.

Ratcliffe was fired yesterday and was immediately replaced by Dave Woods, the man who had been brought in as director of rugby in mid-April.

The decision was taken despite victory over London Skolars on Saturday, and Ratcliffe said he was both shocked and disappointed – although he admitted results this season had not been as good as expected. He leaves the club fifth in Championship One after seven wins and six losses in the league.

He told The Press: “I’m really disappointed they’ve made that decision. They’ve put it down to being disappointed with some results.

“I’ve not been happy with some of them either, like losing to Swinton and Rochdale. There have been a few results that have gone the wrong way which we should have won. But then we beat (previously unbeaten) Blackpool and Oldham and we’re coming into a run of fixtures we could have pushed on with.

“It’s a decision they’ve made and obviously they feel it’s the right decision.”

Asked if he thought he could have still taken the team to success this season, he said: “I would like to think so. I’d like to think we could have gone further and done well in the play-offs.

“But these things happen in sport. It’s the old saying – players win games and coaches lose them.”

Of his players this season, he said: “Some have maybe not fulfilled some of their potential. But there is a good group of men there who can achieve what they want to achieve if they put their minds to it.”

He also wished Woods all the best. Asked if he felt his job had been threatened by the Aussie’s arrival at Huntington Stadium, he said: “It’s hard to say. I asked questions when he first came in, asking why they were bringing him in.

“But I enjoyed working with him. He’s pretty disappointed as well, but life moves on – it’s professional sport.

“He’s a very experienced coach. I’ve learned a few things off him and I hope he can say the same. Hopefully he can use that experience to bring success to York.”

Ratcliffe received the call from club chief John Guildford, just half an hour before the news was broken on The Press’ website.

Ratcliffe revealed: “He (Guildford) said they felt results have not been brilliant and they wanted to regroup and have a push towards the end of the season. He said he too was disappointed they had to make that decision.”

He has no other coaching role in the pipeline, but added: “I want to stay in the game and I want to get back in as soon as possible.”

He added: “I would like to thank all the supporters at York. I’ve enjoyed every minute of it. It was my first head coach role (at semi-professional level). I wish them success this year and urge the fans to stick behind the boys.”