YORK City Knights coach Mick Cook has conceded the club cannot compete with the big money deals being done this winter after watching last season's club captain sign for Batley Bulldogs.

Local favourite Lee Paterson has left the Knights after being offered an unmatchable deal by the National League One outfit.

Prospective National League Two promotion rivals Featherstone Rovers have been hitting headlines for their high cash dealings to bring in a string of ex-Super League stars.

And it seems money is now also talking for Batley.

Said Cook: "He's had a good offer from Batley, both financially and it does keep him in National League One. We couldn't compete with the offer.

"We wish him all the best. He's been pretty good for us while I've been at the club and I think he has improved as a player and is someone who works hard at his game.

"It's a new challenge for him to break into the team at Batley."

Paterson was the star of the team that won the NL2 championship two seasons ago and was named the loose forward of the year in that division and came close to being named the outright man of the season - despite famously not managing a single try all year.

He was named as club captain alongside team skipper Dan Potter at the start of last season and quickly found himself as the onfield leader while Potter sat out weeks with injury.

That pressure though, and the step-up in divisions, impacted on his form and it wasn't until he switched to half-back to cover for other injuries that he began to revert back to his old tackle-crazy self.

Paterson battled on through injuries of his own but, with relegation all but confirmed, sat out the last four matches to undergo shoulder reconstruction injury.

The Knights recruitment drive, meanwhile, has been put on ice while the club assesses its options.

Said Cook: "It's pretty quiet at the moment.

"We've still got the option of loan players for next season, both from Leeds and elsewhere, so we're just sitting back at the moment.

"People are paying silly money but we can't compete with some of the money that's being thrown about.

"Plus, we have already secured a lot of players from last year and we have used up a lot of our budget already.

"So we are mainly sitting back for the moment, although we have got our eyes on a prop."

Former York City Knight Chris Langley, who had been considering a return to the Minster city, has re-signed for Batley Bulldogs.

Released centre Neil Law has signed for newly promoted Sheffield Eagles along with former Knights prop Yusuf Sozi, who was at Doncaster last term.