LEE WATERMAN'S second spell at York City Knights is to be aborted inside two months - though his immediate future is uncertain.

It is believed the 28-year-old wants to go back to Doncaster and York boss James Ford says the player no longer figures in his plans, but The Press understands the homeless Knights are asking for a cash fee - believed to be dependent on how many games he plays for the South Yorkshire club for the remainder of the year - and it is unclear if the Championship strugglers are willing to pay.

Waterman, a regular try-scorer in his previous spell at the Knights, came back to a fanfare at the end of April, signing a deal until the end of the season, but he has played only four games, scoring three tries.

He missed a couple of matches through injury in May and last week was axed by Ford after a "very minor breach of club discipline".

Waterman has since said on Facebook that he is leaving York due to work and family commitments.

Ford said: "I've not actually spoken to Lee but we've had a text message conversation where he said he can't fully commit to what we were doing because of family and work. That's understandable.

"We wish him all the best. We think he's going to Doncaster but it's up to him what he does. He's got to fit it in with his work and family life. I'm not sure how going to Doncaster will make a difference but he's a good player and if he gets the work-rugby balance right, he could fulfil his potential. Hopefully he will."

Ford said Waterman, who arrived ostensibly as a centre, was behind Greg Minikin and Liam Cunningham in the current pecking order, and the recent arrival of Michael Channing on dual-registration from Castleford pushed him further down the list.

Waterman won promotion with York in 2010, bagging 25 tries and 102 goals in 27 outings that year to finish as Championship One’s leading points-scorer, and in total notched 30 tries and 122 goals in 42 games for the club.

He joined Doncaster after leaving Huntington Stadium at the end of 2011, scoring 36 tries in his maiden season as he helped the Dons win promotion as Championship One champions and going on to notch a total of 61 in 81 appearances for the South Yorkshire side.

He asked for a release from the Dons in April saying he was not enjoying his rugby and wanted to "get the buzz back".

Doncaster's new head coach Gary Thornton - the man who led York to the Championship One title last year but did not have his contract renewed after the team crashed out of the promotion play-offs - says he would be happy to have Waterman at the Keepmoat.

But he added: "It's a bit more complicated than it might seem. Lee has expressed an interest in coming back. In an ideal world York would release him but it doesn't always work as simply as that. Whether it can be sorted out remains to be seen."

The Dons are bottom of the Championship still without a win, a run which led to Paul Cooke's departure as boss, with Thornton tasked with saving them from relegation.

* THE future of the Knights' reserves set-up is in further doubt after the club postponed tomorrow night's match at home to Keighley Cougars.

Keighley tweeted they had been "informed the Knights have withdrawn from the competition" but York have not confirmed that is the case. A spokesman said: "I'm not sure where they've got that from. We've just postponed the game."

The Knights reserves have yet to play a reserve league match so far this year, citing homelessness as the biggest factor, though away games, including last week's at Featherstone, have also been called off. Injuries in the ranks had previously being blamed.

Mick Ramsden, the York RL stalwart and reserves boss, last month revealed he is leaving the club and no new second-team coach has yet been appointed.