YORK City Knights have beaten several clubs to the signature of bulldozing Gateshead prop Yusuf Sozi.

The capture of former Huddersfield promotion winner Chris Langley - revealed by the Evening Press yesterday as a target for the club - has also been confirmed.

However, attempts to retain multi-award winner Trevor Krause have failed, with the Aussie now set to return down under.

Young Londoner Sozi, impressive in the Thunder's two games against the Knights last season, started out as a junior with Blackheath RUFC before having his big rugby league break with London Broncos, playing several times in Super League. He signed for Gateshead after moving north and, after an impressive season, was being tracked by a number of clubs.

Knights chief executive Steve Ferres said: "He's got the capability to get back into Super League. He's keen to move forward and will fit in with the personnel we've got at the club."

Meanwhile, National League Two 'Dream Team' star Krause picked up another accolade last night as he was named the Knights Supporters' Club's Player of the Year.

The Aussie, who has already collected the Evening Press/Collier Plant Hire Player of the Year award, also shared the Most Tries prize with Darren Callaghan, both players having scored 14.

Acomb-based Callaghan was another double winner, lifting the Most Improved Player accolade up for grabs for former York Wasps players.

The NL2's Young Player of the Year, Danny Brough unsurprisingly lifted the fans' Young Player gong.

Last night's well-attended Supporters' Club presentation bash also saw £4,000, raised from the match-day Pot Of Gold fund, donated by the Supporters Club to the Knights' proposed Academy.

Updated: 11:21 Wednesday, October 15, 2003