YORK City Knights chief executive Steve Ferres is anticipating a turnover of "about eight to ten" players over the off-season.

Ferres will wait until incoming head coach Mick Cook's commitments as Leeds Rhinos head coach are over - the Rhinos, of course, face a Super League Grand Final against Bradford Bulls on Saturday - before they finalise a recruitment plan.

But with both the club and the players now knowing which division the Knights will be playing in next season, following the heartbreaking play-off final defeat to Halifax on Sunday, contract talks are likely to develop apace.

"I will be sitting down with Mick Cook next week," Ferres told the Evening Press.

"He's got his commitments with Leeds and once they're finished we will formulate a plan of action regards recruitment and players we're keeping."

One player definitely leaving is prop Richard Wilson, who revealed to the Evening Press on Monday that he was retiring, while scrum-half Danny Brough's reputed move to Hull FC looks likely to be confirmed soon. Aussie Aaron Wood, who didn't make the first team after mid-July, may be another to leave.

In the other direction, it is likely that a few Leeds Rhinos youngsters will follow Cook - who was unveiled as Hull-bound Richard Agar's successor two weeks ago - from Headingley. Talented Gateshead Thunder brothers Paul and Neil Thorman have also been tipped with a move to Huntington Stadium, with the former a possible replacement for Brough.

"I should imagine there will be a change of about eight to ten players coming and going. That's just a rough idea," said Ferres.

"To be fair to Mick Cook, he's got a big game coming up this weekend and he has got to put his time and efforts into that. We will then move forward next week."

Ferres said which players would be offered deals "did not particularly" depend on the outcome of Sunday's play-off final and thus what division the club were in next year.

"That was dictated by the players," he said. "They weren't keen to sign until they knew who the new coach would be and what division we'd be in. What division we'd be in was in their hands.

"I will now be going round the players to see who does want to stay and who doesn't."

Updated: 10:40 Wednesday, October 13, 2004