YORK City Knights have resigned themselves to losing star winger Austin Buchanan to Super League side Hull.

The young flier, who scored 15 tries in 16 games after signing from Leeds Rhinos midway through the season, is set to follow departed coach Richard Agar and scrum-half Danny Brough to the KC Stadium.

Knights chief executive Steve Ferres said: "I know they have been talking to him, though I don't know if it's gone through or not.

"If Austin had not been approached by a Super league club I'm confident he would have stayed with us, but you can't stand in the way of progress."

Buchanan, the National League Two Young Player of the Year, was contracted to York until the end of the season just finished. Ferres added: "I hope he goes on to realise his full potential. He's a lad who's got every chance of making a name for himself in the game. He's got the opportunity now that he did not have previously and we wish him well."

Brough stars for Scotland - Page 42

Updated: 10:30 Monday, October 25, 2004