YORK City Knights' Chief Executive Steve Ferres is backing Jim Elston and Yusuf Sozi to continue their rapid improvement.

Both players have re-signed for the Knights, as reported in Monday's Evening Press, and Ferres reckons they will be big assets in 2005.

He said: "I'm delighted that Jim and Yusuf have signed on again for the next season.

"Both players had a big season for us during 2004 and they both have the potential to further improve their game. I would expect them to be even better players at the end of next season."

Pacy hooker Elston has played 30 matches for the Knights last season, scoring 18 tries, while powerhouse prop Sozi scored seven tries in 34 appearances.

Elston (pictured left) and Sozi join half-back Scott Rhodes and second row John Smith in signing on again for the Knights next season.

The Knights will also be announcing a new signing later this week as next season's squad starts to take shape.

A new Knights community development scheme was being launched today.

Club sponsors Phoenix Software, who announced last week they will continue backing the rugby league team into 2005, have put forward cash funding for another Sportsmatch scheme to further build on the club's community work.

A £100,000 Sportsmatch project was launched in April of last year with funding from Guildford Construction designated to getting high quality coaching into primary schools, and is now in its second year.

This latest batch of funding will be ploughed into the community programme to create more chances for people in North Yorkshire to get involved and putting national rugby league coaching systems in place.

Knights won the coveted Community Club of the Year title and schemes such as this will add to the already impressive wider scope of the club.

Updated: 10:47 Wednesday, October 20, 2004