YORK-BORN former England winger Peter Fox has announced he has left Wakefield Trinity Wildcats - but he is unlikely to return to his home-town club.

The 30-year-old, who would have been out of contract at the end of this season, has departed Belle Vue by mutual consent.

He has often said he loved his time at York City Knights, which launched him to Super League stardom, and has never ruled out a return. He also ranks being on the field with cousin Jonny Liddell on the day their granddad Pete Warters was granted life membership of the club as "one of the proudest moments" of his career.

However, Championship title hopefuls Halifax are favourites for his signature.

Fox, a product of York Acorn ARLC, broke try-scoring records to help the Knights win promotion from National League Two (Championship One) in 2005 while on loan from Leeds and in 2006 was named in the National League One (Championship) team of the year. He has since spent eight years in Super League with Wakefield, twice, and Hull KR.

He has scored 45 tries in 84 appearances for the Wildcats in total but has managed only two in ten appearances for the struggling side this year and has not played for a month.

He has scored 148 career tries in total, including 40 for the Knights (2005-2006), 56 for Hull KR (2008-2011), and seven in six appearances for England (2008-2009).

Wakefield boss Richard Agar said: "We'd decided that we wouldn't be re-signing Peter for next year and for a player of his experience, we'd give him the opportunity to look elsewhere with the view to him bagging a contract for next year.

"We really thank him for his efforts. The part he's played since I've been here in building the club back up - he played a big part in that on the field and off the field. We really wish him well in his new venture."