THE prospective new board at York City Knights are pressing ahead with their recruitment plans for 2017 despite the ongoing uncertainty off the field - with two exciting teenage half-backs lined up.

Head coach James Ford was unavailable for comment but The Press understands provisional agreements have been reached with Hull FC starlet Harry Tyson-Wilson and free-scoring Bradford Bulls youngster Danny Sowerby.

Like with Player of the Year Ed Smith, the deals are likely to be rubber-stamped if and when the prospective owners complete their takeover of the club.

It is thought, however, that fellow half-back Danny Nicklas is leaving the club, with strong speculation he is to join Knights skipper Jack Aldous in making the switch to Newcastle Thunder.

Tyson-Wilson, an England international at scholarship and academy level, played three times on loan for York in the summer, scoring four tries and 14 goals.

His success rate with the boot could solve the Knights' goalkicking problems, which plagued the team throughout 2016.

He notched a hat-trick and eight conversions alone in the 56-12 win over Gloucestershire All Golds at Bootham Crescent in June.

The 19-year-old's older brother, Bobby, played for Hull and Doncaster and dad Rob is a youth coach with the City of Hull Academy.

Sowerby, meanwhile, was a regular scorer for Bradford's under-19s this year, averaging virtually one a game. A former Milford Marlins junior, he joined the Bulls after a spell in Castleford Tigers' academy.

As reported by The Press, a consortium, believed to be headed up by sports management consultant Jon Flatman and backed by Featherstone Rovers chairman Mark Campbell, have agreed terms with outgoing Knights owner John Guildford to take over the club, with Guildford saying the deal was subject to City of York Council confirming the team can play at York City's Bootham Crescent ground next year as part of the community stadium scheme.

It is understood negotiations are still ongoing with the council about both that and the compensation package given to the club for no longer having income streams from Huntington Stadium - which has been demolished to be redeveloped into the planned new arena for both clubs.

It is unclear if the RFL have set the prospective new owners a deadline for the takeover to be completed.