SECOND-ROW star Josh Tonks has admitted the uncertainty at York City Knights was a big factor in his departure to rivals Keighley Cougars.

The 25-year-old fan favourite signed at Cougar Park last week but has told The Press he had not planned on leaving York - at least until the club became enveloped in crisis at the end of the season with their future plunged into doubt.

It is hoped the planned takeover will finally be completed today - an apparent 'D' Day for the club - with agreement then following between the new owners and City of York Council over playing at Bootham Crescent as part of the community stadium scheme. The club would then be reinstated into Kingstone Press League One for 2017.

However, Tonks was one of several players unable to wait for it all to be sorted and duly joined the exodus.

He said: "I loved it at York and wasn't planning on moving but it's fair to say it didn't end great and there was a lot of uncertainty, and it seemed right to move on.

"I really enjoyed it there. The fans seemed to enjoy how I played and that's part of the battle sometimes - when the fans are cheering you on it gives you a lift.

"The coaches were great and the lads were unbelievable - a great set of people.

"But in the end there was so much uncertainty. Keighley came in and a good offer came up and, in the circumstances, I had to take it really.

"Hopefully I can get on the good side of the fans there as well and play some good rugby."

Tonks first joined York from Dewsbury towards the end of 2014 and helped the team seal that year's League One League Leaders’ Shield.

He went on to make 57 appearances in all for the club, sitting out only six matches in the following two seasons, and scoring 18 tries, helping the Knights reach the play-offs each year.

He added: "I got on well with (head coach) James Ford - he's a friend as well as a coach. The rest of the coaching staff were great too.

"It was just the deal was right for me to move on at the time."

Tonks, who followed Mike Emmett to Keighley, became the seventh key player to officially leave York since the end of the season, after skipper Jack Aldous, vice-captain Emmett, Richard Wilkinson, Russ Spiers, Brett Waller and Super League-bound Kriss Brining.

Matty Dale has also now retired and Jack Anderson has been released, while the departures of Danny Nicklas and Tyler Craig are expected to be confirmed soon.

Tonks, currently working away, is to join in pre-season training at Cougar Park next Tuesday.

"I'm looking forward to the new challenge," he said.

"I spoke to Mike Emmett and he was full of praise for how training is going."

The direct, hard-running back-rower reckons newcomers Toronto Wolfpack will be League One's title favourites in 2017 but, with the division having been hard to call in recent years, with eight or nine clubs starting out with hopes of getting in the top five, he admits not knowing who will be the other main play-off contenders.

But he does believe the Cougars have a squad that can bounce back from the disappointment of missing out on the play-offs this year to go up next time.

"I haven't got a clue to be honest, but I do know we've got a good squad together," he said when asked who will be in the final shake-up.

"Toronto will be making sure they're getting promoted. Hopefully we will be up there with them. That will be the goal I'm sure.

"It will be interesting again. League One is improving every year with better players coming in. It should be a good, exciting competition."