JAMES FORD is happy to put his faith in young hookers Kriss Brining and Harry Carter - especially with "hard-working, unselfish" utility packman Jack Iley also now in the mix.

Ford will go into his debut season as York City Knights boss having seen number one hooker Jack Lee - the Championship One Player of the Season and the only ever-present at Huntington Stadium this year - depart for Hunslet Hawks after five years leading York around the park.

But he is confident his young guns are more than capable of filling Lee's big boots, with former Featherstone youngster Iley now one of the candidates to do so having agreed new terms.

"He's a real positive influence around the club," said Ford of the 24-year-old, who played ten times in 2013 but only two in a luckless 2014.

"He brings lots of positives and hard work, and defensively he's very reliable. He always works really hard for the group. Having played alongside him, he's quite inspirational with the amount of unselfish work he puts in.

"Players of his style will not get too much press or publicity but players certainly appreciate playing with him.

"His last couple of years have been tough with the bad luck he's had with injuries just as he's been breaking into the team. Hopefully, with the excellent support staff here, we can get him fully fit and he can put pressure on Kriss and Harry, as well as those in the back row."

Scarborough lad Brining - the Knights' then youngest-ever player as a 17-year-old substitute against Widnes in April 2011 - is still only 20 but has 41 first-team appearances to his name.

Carter is three months his junior and, having previously been coached by Ford at Wakefield College before likewise coming through the system at Huntington Stadium, he broke into the first team once in 2013 and six times in an injury-hit 2014.

Both have been understudies to Lee, and predominantly used off the bench, but will now be asked to step up.

The pair bring different skills - Brining is hard-hitting in defence with a renowned tackling technique, and can be dangerous scooting from dummy-half, while Carter is a nippy support player and impresses the Knights' coaching team with his game management despite his limited first-team experience.

But they will also be asked to add consistency and a try threat, with Lee having missed only six matches since arriving in April 2010 and having regularly sat towards the top of the club's try charts with 56 in 116 appearances.

Meanwhile, Ford also reckons new boy Josh Nicklin will provide new team captain James Haynes with good competition for his full-back berth.

Nicklin has arrived from Hull Under-19s having been released by the Super League outfit.

Ford said: "He's potentially a very good player. He's safe at the back and reads the game well. I've spent a bit of time watching him and have seen him in training and I'm confident he will fit into our environment and contribute positively.

"I'm sure Josh will be challenging James Haynes for starting jersey."