YORK City Knights will not race into the transfer market following the shock departure yesterday of Aussie ace Simon Friend - despite the big cash boost from their Powergen Challenge Cup run.

As revealed in the Evening Press, Friend has returned down under after his partner, Katrina, was offered an excellent new job back home at the same time as he suffered a problematic finger injury, which, it has now been revealed, could take up to 12 weeks to heal.

This move came just days after the club formally released Craig McDowell, while a third back-rower, Mark Cain, this week underwent surgery on a shoulder injury which will keep him out for three months. Utility ace Jonny Liddell, who can play loose-forward, is also ruled out few a few weeks with a compound finger fracture.

However, head coach Mick Cook said: "We're still okay at the moment. We've got enough in the squad to handle it, we've still got quite a few options."

It is yet to be confirmed how much cash the Knights made from their Cup run, including their share of the near-7,000 gate against St Helens in last Friday's fifth round encounter, but the club will not be rushed into spending it to re-bolster their squad in the wake of the back-row losses.

Cook's second-row options currently include in-form Ian Kirke, Darren Callaghan, who is the only ever-present this season, Lee Paterson, Mick Ramsden, who has recently returned to fitness, and James Ward, who is available again for Sunday's game away to Gateshead after his knee infection. John Smith can also step back from his position at prop, while there are a few other options at loose-forward.

The Knights boss said: "We have got players that can step in. We're not looking to panic and dip into the transfer market to buy someone in.

"If somebody comes up then obviously we will take a look but there are no plans right now."

McDowell, who has played only twice for York since signing from Keighley, has struggled to attend training due to work commitments and is set to seek a club nearer to his Halifax home, but goes with the Knights' blessing.

"He was struggling to get to training so we've released him," confirmed Cook. "It was in his best interests and there was no ill-feeling."

Meanwhile, York's cup victors St Helens are coming to terms with the dismissal of Ian Millward.

Caretaker coach Dave Rotheram insists the players remain focused on matters on the field.

St Helens have won their last seven matches in the League and Cup to maintain their twin-pronged assault on the game's major trophies but tomorrow they face a tricky test against Hull at the KC Stadium, where they have yet to experience victory.

Rotheram was delighted with the character shown in last Friday's 62-0 Powergen Challenge Cup win over the Knights and says the suspension and eventual sacking of Millward has had no adverse effect on the team.

"I think it's made the players' resolve stronger," he said. "The mood has been very good. The players are very professional and they haven't made any opinions public that would disrupt training, they've just got on with the job."

Updated: 11:13 Thursday, May 12, 2005