YORK City Knights' new coach is Featherstone Rovers star Richard Agar, the Evening Press can reveal.

The 31-year-old former Widnes, Dewsbury and Rochdale half-back, who has twice won Premiership play-offs in his playing career, has been player-assistant coach at Rovers this season.

Indeed, the Press believes he had been in the running for the top job at Post Office Road after boss Andy Kelly's contract was not renewed, but he has instead nailed his colours to the Knights' mast, taking over from departed boss Paul Broadbent.

The experienced stand-off, who helped the Division One outfit twice beat the Knights in the Arriva Trains Cup group section earlier this season, is one of the most notable performers down the years at National League level.

However, he will come to York purely as head coach having ended his days as a player.

"I think it's a great appointment for the club and for the lad as well," said delighted Knights chief executive Steve Ferres, who has been in talks with Agar for several days.

"He has all the attributes we wanted in a coach. He can grow with the club and he will have expertise around him so we can help him develop into what he wants to be, which is a Super League coach. He sees this as a stepping stone in the right direction."

Agar will have some know-ledge of the Minster city as his father, Alan Agar, now chief executive at Feather-stone, is a former York player.

"He possibly would have been in the line for the Featherstone job but we saw an opportunity to contact him," said Ferres.

"I knew Richard previously and have spoken to him on numerous occasions over the years and I have found him to be a very knowledgeable player, someone who can make a good coach."

Agar has other coaching experience in addition to his assistant role at Rovers. He has led England Students and local amateur club Featherstone Lions, and has several coaching badges.

Ferres said: "He will be one of the top coaches in the next decade. We fully expect him to carry on the good work done by Paul Broadbent. He has got the same ambition as the club, it seems to be a perfect marriage."

He added: "We will assess the other positions within the organisation now we've appointed the head coach and he will have an input into that."

Updated: 09:47 Saturday, September 20, 2003