YORK City Knights RL are set to step up their search for players in the next few weeks, but Great Britain hooker Lee Jackson is not on the club's shopping list.

With the new season set to kick off early next year, the newly-formed club are actively trying to piece together a squad capable of challenging for honours in the National Two League.

And with the wealth of contacts within the sport that coach Paul Broadbent and chief executive Steve Ferres have, a host of leading players such as Hull Sharks number nine Jackson have already been linked with a possible move.

But with both Broadbent, a former team-mate of Jackson, and Ferres currently out of the country, no players are likely to be signed just yet.

However, Ferres has admitted both he and Broadbent have spoken to some players about turning out at the Huntington Stadium next season, while pursuing a number of other leads.

Speaking to the Evening Press, Ferres said: "We are looking at a number of different options at the moment, but Paul or myself haven't spoken to Lee Jackson.

"We are actively pursuing players for next season and have held talks with some, but that is as far as things have gone."

Although unable to disclose the names of the targeted players, Ferres confirmed they were from Northern Ford Premiership clubs as opposed to Super League - again ruling out any approach to Jackson.

Updated: 11:09 Wednesday, October 02, 2002