ALEX BENSON says re-signing at York City Knights was not a difficult decision to make after agreeing a new contract for 2012 – and he is optimistic this next year will be spent in the Co-operative Championship.

The Knights’ immediate future rests on the fates of Crusaders, who have applied to join the Championship after withdrawing from Super League, and Barrow, who could be demoted following a host of charges relating to off-field rule-breaking. If either are placed in Championship One, then York will be spared relegation.

But club captain Benson believes the Knights deserved to stay up on merit anyway – and he says the fact he loves playing for York made him keen to remain at Huntington Stadium regardless of which division they find themselves in.

“I like it there,” said the prop. “I like the club, I like the place, and you tend to play your best rugby when you’re happy.”

The 26-year-old, who has played 44 times in two seasons at the Knights since joining from Doncaster, also appreciated being handed the armband at the start of 2011 – something he hopes to keep next year.

“It was new to me but I enjoyed it,” he said. “It was a different role for me, to take on that extra responsibility, but, as I’ve said before, I play in a position where you lead from the front anyway.

“There are probably aspects of captaincy I need to work on, but having Chris Thorman on the pitch as player/ assistant-coach takes pressure off. He’s an experienced guy and talks a lot so it’s good I can learn from him.”

As for the relegation issue, Benson, a key member of the team promoted through the play-offs 12 months earlier, said: “We had an aim to stay up and through a bit of a loophole it looks like we’ll probably do that now.

“I would have liked us to stay up on merit, but in any other competition we would have done that.”

Two teams get relegated and the Knights finished third-bottom, but wooden spoonists Toulouse were exempt from the drop and are returning to French rugby league anyway, while Hunslet finished above York thanks only to bonus points.

Said Benson: “I’d like to think we deserved to stay up. We won more games than three other teams and in any other sport, or in any other league, if you do that you stay up, but it seems to be different in the Championship.

“We did okay with a very young squad and we can build on that next year. Hopefully we can keep the nucleus of the team and add some quality to it as well.”

A few key members of that squad have, however, departed, including fellow packmen Ben Jones, Duane Straugheir and The Press Player of the Year Nathan Freer – a good mate of Benson. The pair played together in Hull’s academy as well as for Doncaster and then York, but Freer has now signed for table-toppers Featherstone.

Said Benson: “We’re very good mates and we train together a lot. We’re cut from the same cloth really in how we play and what we’re like off the field. I’ll miss him in the car and on the pitch, but it’s rugby league and players move on. He wants to take that step and prove himself at somewhere like Featherstone.

“York have got other people in mind and I’m sure they will fill the place with a quality player.”

Knights general manager Ian Wilson said of Benson’s decision to stay: “He’s been with us a couple of years and he knows what the club is about.

“It’s important to have some continuity in the squad and we’re really pleased he’s staying another year.

“He’s a good influence for the younger lads. He’s a good talker, always trains well and does the right things off the field. He’s got experience of Championship level and we feel he’s an important signing and that he will kick on further next year.”