COOK Island duo Tere Glassie and Dana Wilson have sensationally done a 'U'-turn and claim they will not be coming to York City Knights after all.

The club announced this week they had captured the South Sea Islanders from rival LHF National League One outfit Oldham, but in an astonishing turnaround, the pair have now said they do not want to play for the NL2 champions.

It is not known whether the duo want to return Down Under after what may have been a problematic first year in England due to Oldham's financial crisis, but the Evening Press believes they may have been offered better terms by a club on that side of the Pennines.

Leigh Centurions, who have been relegated from Super League, were today emerging as probable suitors.

Knights chief executive John Guildford confirmed to the Press, however, that both players had signed contracts with the Knights for 2006, and these had been sent to the Rugby Football League. This means the club could negotiate a fee for the duo if they so wish.

He added: "It's disappointing that they have said this - but if they don't want to put the Knights shirt on, we don't want them here.

"We will wait to hear from other clubs that are interested because their contracts are with us and anybody who is interested in signing them would have to go through York."

Meanwhile, the Knights' interest in fellow Oldham star Marty Turner has ended, especially after it was confirmed the New Zealander would count on the overseas quota.

The club had been in negotiations with the Kiwi half-back but it has been claimed that the player, a friend of both Glassie and Wilson, was looking elsewhere, and Guildford said today he would not be offered a contract by York.

Glassie today said: "All three of us spoke to York last week. Initially Dana and I were a bit interested but Marty Turner was not keen and after thinking things over for a couple of days we decided it was not the place for us either.

"On a personal note, it's a long way to travel and I'm pretty well settled in this area, even if I'm not at Oldham next year. I would not want to move too far away.

"To be honest, I don't know what will be happening and I think that also applies to Dana and Marty. But it's fair to say we won't be going to York."

Updated: 16:24 Thursday, September 29, 2005