YORK City Knights are unlikely to jump into the transfer market to find a quick replacement for Mark Stewart - with boss Richard Agar saying he is happy with what he has.
As revealed by the Evening Press, utility player Stewart is to return to his native Australia next month, with Sunday's home LHF Healthplan National League Two game against Gateshead set to be his last match in a Knights shirt.
But rather than look for someone to take his place in the squad, Knights coach Agar told the Press he was happy with what he had.
"We're all right with the squad at the moment," he said. "If any good player becomes available who we thought would improve the squad then we would obviously look at it but at the moment we're more than happy with the players we've got."
The Knights recruited young winger Austin Buchanan from Leeds Rhinos last week, and his arrival could effectively make up for the departure of Stewart, who has been playing on the wing. Top-scorer Alex Godfrey is also fit to return to the three-quarter ranks after a hamstring injury.
Agar added: "We've known for a short while that there might be a problem with 'Stewie' and Austin coming in pre-empted it a bit.
"Only Chris Smith remains on the injury list and the fact we've otherwise got a full-strength squad also helps."
The National League took a weekend off last week for the Powergen Challenge Cup final, and Agar was hoping the Knights - who were on a good run of form beforehand with consecutive wins over teams touted as potential title rivals - had benefited from the short break.
"They went very well in training," he said of his players.
"I'm sure they all enjoyed having the weekend off, though I guess we will be able to tell on Sunday if it's done them any good."
New Castleford head coach Gary Mercer is determined that, with the help of rugby league legend and new coaching consultant Ellery Hanley, the club can draw a line under their miserable start to the season of ten straight Super League defeats.
Said Mercer: "We worked together as players at Leeds and have got a great respect for each other.
"On the coaching side of it Ellery will be very influential."
Updated: 10:20 Thursday, May 20, 2004
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