FORMER Great Britain international Lee Jackson will skipper York City Knights in the 2004 season.

The Evening Press can reveal the 34-year-old hooker will take over the captaincy from Rich Hayes in what is set to be his last season of a distinguished professional rugby league career.

Knights coach Richard Agar has also named two vice-captains. Assistant-coach Nathan Graham and National League Two Young Player of the Year Danny Brough will share the role.

Agar said his decision to give Jackson the armband was 'no slight whatsoever' on 33-year-old Hayes, who is also likely to retire at the end of this campaign.

Agar explained: "Lee Jackson plays a pivotal role on the field and has got the respect of the entire squad.

"He's a guy who has played under some of the best coaches in the world.

"It's going to be his last season and he wants to finish on a high and he professed an interest in the position. He's led the way in training and he's spent a lot of time passing experience and tips on to the younger guys."

As for Hayes, whose testimonial match against Hull KR on January 4 is now only two and a half weeks away, Agar said: "As a prop, Richie will probably spend more time rotating on and off the field and my preference is to have someone in a pivotal position to be in charge.

"It's no slight on Richie at all, none whatsoever. You could not ask for a better professional than him. He will still be a leader in his own right just by the way he plays

"I've done it for reasons I think will benefit the team and the players involved, and Rich can see it that way and says it won't affect him one bit. He will play the same and have the same influence in the side."

As for 32-year-old Scotland international Graham and 20-year-old Brough, Agar said: "Nathan Graham is an experienced guy who has played a captain's role before at Featherstone and Dewsbury.

"We're trying to get Danny to adopt more responsibility into his game. His position at half-back is an influential one and we're hoping this helps his development."

He added: "We've got four or five guys that could quite comfortably captain the side.

"There are several leaders and this can only be a good thing, and the appointments have been well received by all the squad."

Updated: 11:08 Wednesday, December 17, 2003