YORK City Knights head coach Mick Cook has spoken of his delight at the return to the club of former boss Paul Broadbent.

The former Great Britain international prop will further enhance the impressive-looking coaching set-up at Huntington Stadium, taking at least one training session a week.

The Knights have also signed Ian Kirke from Dewsbury Rams, the big second-row-cum-centre joining for his second spell at Huntington Stadium following his brief stint as a York Wasps player in the doomed 2002 campaign.

Broadbent (pictured above) played a major role in getting the Knights up and running, becoming the club's first head coach and leading them to the play-offs in their inaugural season in 2003.

He stepped down at the end of that year due to family commitments, but, having taken the occasional training session towards the end of last season, he is now back in the ranks.

He will now work alongside former Sheffield Eagles team-mates Cook, the new head coach, and Daryl Powell, who will combine his job as Leeds Rhinos director of rugby with a coaching role at Huntington Stadium.

Cook said: "Paul's a good lad. We played in the same team for ten years and he's a really solid bloke.

"He's keen to stay involved with the club, he's keen to get back into it and wants to be part of what's happening at York.

"I'm very happy we'll have him back. He's got a lot to offer."

Kirke played eight games for the Wasps in 2002 and after the club's demise signed for Dewsbury.

His recruitment offers the Knights cover at centre should the club's leading try-scorer last season, Chris Langley, leave, while there are reports that York are also interested in Keighley Cougars centre Matt Foster and club-mate prop Craig McDowell.

Langley has been in talk with NL1 club Doncaster but is yet to sign for the Dragons. He remains on York's books with the Knights not yet out of the race.

Winger Scott Walker, however, has reportedly left Huntington Stadium for NL2 rivals Hunslet Hawks.

Former Knights loan player Dale Cardoza is also in close talks with Doncaster about a move to Belle Vue.

Wakefield Trinity Wildcats have signed the National League One Player of the Year Sam Obst from Whitehaven. Fellow Aussie half-back Ben Black has agreed to stay at Halifax, while Castleford have signed Rochdale full-back Michael Platt.

Hull KR's former York three-quarter, Nick Pinkney, has retired at the age of 33.

Updated: 10:56 Tuesday, November 09, 2004