YORK City Knights were close to wrapping up a lucrative transfer today which could see them land three players in exchange for Damian Ball.

Knights' chief executive Steve Ferres was hopeful of concluding talks with Hull KR this afternoon to secure the services of three of the National League One club's squad.

The Robins first approached the Knights in June offering two men for Ball, only for the deal to be "turned down flat" by Ferres.

But this time it seems they have closed in on their target and, if the deal is completed by today's 5pm deadline, he will be in a Rovers shirt for their match at Oldham on Sunday, while the Knights will have three extra names on the team sheet for their vital clash at home to Barrow.

Said Ferres: "We are working on a potential transfer involving Damian Ball going to Hull KR in exchange for a choice of up to three players coming the other way.

"I'm pretty hopeful that it will go through but if not, Damian Ball will be playing with us on Sunday."

Ball has been one of the most influential players of the season so far with his strength and power at loose forward being converted into ten tries and three goals from 21 starts.

Ball's on-the-field performances have thrown him into the top three of the Evening Press/ Collier Plant Hire player of the year stakes and also led him to be named in the National League Two team of the month for June.

His achievements inevitably attracted the attention of higher league opposition leading to the initial bid tabled by the Robins and ultimately, today's potential transfer.

Ferres added: "They've been trying for a month to try to prise Damian from us and we are hopeful that we can sort it out now.

"We will miss him. He's been a great influence on the team, but you've got to do the right thing for everyone involved."

The names of the three targets have been kept under wraps while details are finalised but Ferres said he is hoping to attract a centre/ winger, a prop forward and a back rower.

The back rower would offer a like-for-like compensation for the man widely regarded as one of the best back rows outside of Super League while a prop would add strength to the pack.

The addition of a winger, meanwhile, would also help fill the gap left by the suspended and now dismissed Alex Godfrey.

Ferres said: "What we are trying to do is put some fresh legs into the team and increase squad numbers because we have been short on several occasions this season so we've been looking at increasing the bulk of the team.

"It's been a blow losing Alex, a massive blow to the club as well as to him, personally, but one of these players will hopefully fill that gap."

If completed, the three new boys will take the tally of players moving from Hull KR to York this season up to four, after Rich Wilson's season-long loan spell was made permanent earlier this month.

Updated: 10:48 Friday, July 30, 2004