Wakefield Wildcats appoint Hull FC's Richard Agar

Agar had one more year of his Hull FC contract to run

Wakefield Wildcats have appointed Hull FC boss Richard Agar as their new head coach on a three-year deal.

Agar will join Wakefield at the end of the season after eight years at Hull, during which time he led them to a Challenge Cup final and a Grand Final.

"I am really looking forward to the challenge of building a team and seeing it progress," Agar said.

"Wakefield has a very rich history and a very proud heritage and I'm honoured to have been offered this position."

Agar, a former player, began his coaching career at York before moving to Hull as assistant to firstly John Kear and then Peter Sharp.

He took over from Sharp four years ago and has built a reputation for himself of nurturing young talent.

Tom Briscoe, Danny Houghton, Reece Lyne, Jordan Turner and Joe Westerman have all flourished under Agar's tutelage at the KC Stadium.

Agar, who announced he was leaving Hull on Tuesday, has also been involved in the England set-up and was believed to have been short-listed for the England coaching job.

Wakefield chief executive James Elston told BBC Radio Leeds: "His track record in terms of rebuilding - what he did at Hull, taking them from the bottom and into the play-offs and taking them to the Challenge Cup final - is there for all to see.

"He knows the area very well, he's got a track record of bringing people through and not just making them Super League players, but making them players of international standard.

"His reputation in the game with professional players is as good as any I've heard. In the interview process we've spoken to people and we didn't have any negative comeback from any player who's been coached by him, whether that be on England duty or at Hull.

"We're not getting carried away and expecting someone to come in and be competing for the Super League Grand Final, we know it's tough but we want a team that's going to be competitive and give the supporters something to be proud of, and I think Richard is the person to do that."