YORK City Knights have bolstered their ranks by agreeing new deals with three more members of last season's squad.

York RL stalwart Mick Ramsden has put aside any thoughts about retirement to carry on, as has fellow veteran Craig Forsyth, with the duo adding to the growing list of York-born and bred stars in the Knights' 2005 squad.

Also back is former Batley centre Chris Spurr, who moved to Huntington Stadium for the last nine games of the 2004 campaign, scoring four tries.

The Evening Press believes Knights chief executive Steve Ferres is also close to agreeing deals with two new players, one a prop and the other a back-row.

However, the Press understands that top try-scorer of last season, Chris Langley, is to definitely join ex-Knights Craig Farrell and Dean Andrews at Doncaster - coincidentally, the club with whom the Knights have arranged a pre-season friendly against. That match has been confirmed for Sunday, January 16 at Huntington Stadium.

As for birthday boy Ramsden - he turned 33 today - and 34-year-old prop Forsyth, Ferres said: "They're both going to go round again, which is good news for the club.

"They have been an integral part of the squad for the last two years and, although their careers are coming to an end, it's great that they're seeing them out with their home-town club.

"They're both willing to compete for places and they're willing to put their bodies on the line for the club.

"Chris Spurr came to us late in the season and probably didn't show his best form consistently. But he had suffered injury before coming to the club and had been out for some time and was playing himself into form.

"He's keen to do well and will benefit from a good off-season under Mick Cook and his coaching team, and he will be a big asset to the club."

Back-rower Ramsden, who embarks on an 11th season with York, said he "couldn't not sign".

"It's a bit daunting when I think about the commitment for another year but I couldn't resist it, it's another challenge," he said.

"There will be some excellent players fighting for a back-row spot but we're all starting off on an even footing with Mick Cook and I can't resist the challenge of having a go. It's going to be hard but it's getting exciting again."

The former New Earswick All Black, who is keen to get into coaching while playing out the rest of his career, added: "It's been a very short time off, though I've had about four or five weeks' proper rest. It's now going to be intense for 11 months but the training sessions and the new methods we're going to do are good and I'm looking forward to it."

As for the idea of retiring, he added: "I don't like to talk about it any more because I tend not to retire when I say I might do. I'll just take it a year at a time."

Updated: 10:12 Saturday, November 13, 2004