YORK City Knights could find themselves in a full-back fix in the wake of George Rayner's departure to Keighley.

The former Hunslet flier has followed Leeds-based mates Jamaine Wray and Neil Lowe out of Huntington Stadium to Cougar Park, and The Press can reveal the Knights' other regular number one, Lee Lingard, looks likely to sign for promoted Featherstone Rovers.

Furthermore, neither of two other players who filled in at full-back last term, utility ace Jonny Liddell and winger Alex Godfrey, look set to commit to next season in the near future.

Rayner played 19 times for York last term, scoring six tries, before injury curtailed his season. Lingard, who himself was out for half the season with injury, then came back in at full-back, impressing with six tries in eight appearances in the number one shirt.

The former did not quite live up to expectations following his move from Hunslet, but is still rated among the best full-backs in the division and Keighley coach Barry Eaton was certainly delighted to have lured him to Cougar Park.

He said: "George is an outstanding utility back who can cover any position in the back line. He has electric pace and great footwork and is a good finisher."

Lingard did enough to attract the attentions of his local club, Featherstone, and The Press believes they have offered better terms than York.

Furthermore, his girlfriend is pregnant and moving to Rovers would mean more time with her and less travelling.

Lingard has not yet put pen to paper, but admitted Featherstone were heading the chase.

He explained: "I've loved it at York. I don't really want to leave but Featherstone have come in.

"They've been promoted so it's a higher standard and with my girlfriend being pregnant I have to think about what's best for us."

The other two players who covered at full-back for the Knights last term, Liddell and Godfrey, are unlikely to commit themselves to next term, at least for the time being, given the terms offered.

As reported by The Press last week, Liddell has returned to amateur club York Acorn and, with growing work commitments, is presently unwilling to sign up to another semi-professional season. Fellow local lad Godfrey also has work and family commitments and is studying for a teaching degree.

He is unlikely to make a decision on his future until Christmas, though he said he was not considering going anywhere else.

Of the 22 players who have signed or agreed to sign for the Knights, only Lee Mapals has experience of playing at full-back, the young winger having worn the number one shirt twice at the back end of the 2006 season and once this year.

Jonny Waldron is the only other winger on the books, and, due to injury, he has played just once since his switch from Acorn last winter.

Player-coach Paul March had wanted to get almost all of his squad signed up before he goes on holiday next week, but that does not look likely, the situation not being helped by the recent postal strike.