CHALLENGE Cup hero Danny Brough is set to agree new terms with Hull this week and end rumours of a return to part-time rugby and perhaps York City Knights.

Brough, who won the Cup for Hull with a late goal in the final against Leeds Rhinos, has been in discussions at the KC Stadium about a new improved contract.

But negotiations have been going on for so long that it has been reported elsewhere that the young scrum-half, allegedly unimpressed with the offer, was considering going back to being a plumber, a move which could have opened the door to a return to part-time rugby at Huntington Stadium.

However, the Evening Press understands such rumours to be wildly off the mark and a new contract is likely to be agreed by the end of the week.

Another former Knights favourite, Ian Kirke, is also unlikely to return to Hunting-ton Stadium next season.

The 23-year-old back-rower signed a two-year deal with Leeds in the closed season with the possibility of being loaned back to York to gain further experience in National League One.

But it is thought he is now set to go on a year's loan instead to Harlequins RL and thus stay in Super League. Kirke had a brief loan stint with the renamed London club at the back end of this season, though just missed out on making his debut when named 18th man three times.

The Knights have also missed out on Aussie half-back cum hooker Ian Dunneman, the 31-year-old brother of Salford's ex-Leeds hooker, Andrew, who has played in the NRL for North Queensland Cowboys. The move fell through because of work permit problems.

Dana Wilson and Tere Glassie, who reneged on deals to come to York before going home to the Cook Islands for an off-season holiday, have reportedly missed early pre-season training at new club Leigh. Glassie's return to England was delayed because of a cyclone and he will now come back early next month. Wilson is due back next week.

Meanwhile, Knights assistant-coach and development chief Jason Ramshaw is "definitely not" in the running for the assistant job to Peter Roe at his former club Keighley. Roe's new number two is as yet unnamed but has been reported as being a well-known former professional who is currently involved in coaching at another club.

Updated: 11:07 Tuesday, November 15, 2005