CHAIRMAN Jon Flatman has revealed that York City Knights' recruitment plans for 2019 are well underway - albeit made trickier by the new funding structure in professional rugby league.

The Knights will return to the Betfred Championship for the first time since 2013 and, while their previous stay in the second tier proved a struggle, Flatman is aiming on this occasion to "surprise a few people".

They plan to build a squad accordingly, although Flatman explained the reduction in funding to Championship and League One clubs following the controversial Super League-led league restructure adds another dimension to the process - not only affecting budgets but also perhaps seeing extra players enter the market as all clubs rethink their spending strategies.

Flatman - who was apparently contacted by agents within minutes of the Knights sealing the Betfred League One crown last week - said: "We're working our way through the budget, through signings and through the new plan.

"Fundamentally we want a team in the Championship next year that will surprise a few people.

"The new structure and changes in funding arrangements mean a lot of squads are in transition.

"We won't panic over our signings. We will just continue to do as we have done for the past two years and sign the right player when they're available at the right price."

He added of agents' haste, "At 5.15pm (last Sunday) right after the game I'd already had three texts from three agents already talking about players.

"They're not holding back, we're not holding back. I expect to be moving on that quickly, talking to James (Ford, head coach). We've got to build a squad for the Championship and we started straight away."

Eight of the squad that ended the season are already contracted for next year - League One Player of the Year Connor Robinson, fellow nominee Ben Cockayne, Harry Carter, Brad Hey, Ronan Dixon, Josh Jordan-Roberts and local favourites Ash Robson and Joe Porter.

Flatman hinted that talks with the remaining 2018 title winners were priorities - although, of them, top try-scorer Joe Batchelor is joining Super League giants St Helens while fan favourite prop Adam Robinson has seemingly hinted on social media he might not be staying at Bootham Crescent.

"Recruitment-wise it never stops," Flatman reasoned. "There are forever players coming on or out of the market.

"The squad that finished the season deserves a taste of the Championship.

"We will sit down and look at those players but we're already in conversations with other players that we feel will add to that squad and to our culture.

"We will need a bigger squad next year."