AUSTIN BUCHANAN has revealed he would be happy to finish his career at York City Knights - with the club back in the Championship.

The 31-year-old winger, whose career began in earnest at Huntington Stadium 11 years ago, rejected offers from two Championship clubs plus two other League One outfits to sign a one-year deal back with the Minster city side following nine seasons with Dewsbury in which he became one of the Rams' "true legends of the summer era".

He says he would be keen to see out the "two or three" remaining years of his career at York too - still being pushed as a player and still pushing to win trophies.

"York tried to sign me a couple of years ago. It's always been a club I've got respect for ever since I was there. They always looked after me and the fans are second to none, really passionate," said Buchanan, who also turned down a coaching role at Tetley's Stadium.

"I had a few offers this year from a few clubs but York was really the only one for me.

"I spoke to James Ford (head coach) and he assured me the club are going in the right direction with big plans.

"When a couple of these other club found out I was coming to York they said they'd wait for next year, which is really good of them, but I would be happy to finish at York. I started my career there and it'd be good to finish there.

"I was happy there last time and if I hadn't gone full-time I wouldn't have left. I have a lot of friends there. I'm really looking forward to getting started."

He added: "James Ford has said we'll sit down as a team when we start pre-season and go through our goals and what we want to achieve as a team.

"But my goals don't normally change. I want to win every game and my goal for York will be to help them get promoted.

"I won't be happy with anything less.

"There's a good team at York and they play expansive rugby. I don't think they got their rewards this year but with the players there and the players we've signed I think we'll go very well.

"I didn't want to go to a club that wasn't going to challenge me. I want a club with ambition where I'll have to fight for my place, not just walk into the team.

"I always want to train hard and play well. I think I've got two or three years left and I don't want it to be an easy three years. I want to push myself and push for trophies and to win things.

"There'd be nothing better than to help York get back into the Championship."

Buchanan, brother of Leeds veteran Jamie Jones-Buchanan, became a cult hero at York in 2004 after arriving from London Broncos, winning the club's Young Player of the Year award after bagging 15 tries in 16 appearances.

His second season was ruined by a broken arm, the winger finishing with two tries in four games of the club's National League Two title-winning campaign, but he had already showed enough to bag a switch back to Super League with Wakefield.

He returned to York on loan for the second half of 2006, notching five tries in 12 National League One games, and a year later he joined Dewsbury, going on to score 62 tries in 131 appearances and being granted a testimonial this year.

He was a member of their 2009 "Unbeatables" side that won every game in National League Two and played a key role in the club’s stabilisation at Championship level.

The Rams' official website says he "cemented his status as one of the club’s true legends of the summer era", adding: "Whether you were a player, coach, official, member of staff or supporter, Austin was a friend to all and has left a lasting impression on countless people associated with the Rams."