MARK Cain has become the first player to sign on the dotted line for York City Knights.

The former York Wasps fans' favourite last night signed a one-year deal with the Knights having made the switch from Hull Kingston Rovers.

Knights chief executive Steve Ferres also confirmed that York were interested in bringing Rovers duo Alex Godfrey and Richie Hayes back to the city - as reported by the Evening Press ten days ago.

Cain was a hit with Rovers last season, helping them to fourth in the table after signing for the Robins following the demise of the Wasps. The 26-year-old had also been one of the bright lights for the Wasps and will now return for his third spell with York RL, having first signed from amateurs New Earswick All Blacks in the mid-1990s.

The half-back, who has also played for Dewsbury Rams, was out of contract at Rovers and it is known he was attracting interest from a number of other clubs.

He told the Evening Press last week that, although he had possible offers elsewhere, he would like to be part of the revolution at Huntington Stadium if he could get guarantees the Knights would not go the same way as the Wasps, he has decided to return to his home-town club.

"To leave Hull KR to go to York just because I want to be in a team that does well for York would be a bit of a gamble unless it's going to be right," he said.

"But Steve Ferres' record speaks for itself. York are my home town team and if it's going to happen for them I would like to be part of it."

Ferres told the Evening Press today: "We're delighted to have Mark Cain on board. He's shown faith in us and we have to show faith in him by putting together a squad that's competitive.

"He's shown his commitment to York especially after going through the hard times. We now want to show him some good times.

"I thought Mark Cain when he first came onto the scene was an exciting prospect but I don't think he has fulfilled his full potential yet.

"He's got the ability to go further in the game and hopefully Paul (Broadbent, the Knights' payer-coach) can fetch the best out of him and help him to go on to better things."

Ferres said player recruitment would be stepped up after Broadbent returned from holiday at the weekend, and confirmed both Alex Godfrey and prop Richie Hayes - who has been named in the Northern Ford Premiership team of the season - were on the shopping list along with "numerous other players".

He added: "We are speaking to Alex Godfrey but he's contracted until December. We would also be interested in signing Richie Hayes and I can confirm we are talking to him, but that does not mean we're going to get him."

Updated: 10:54 Tuesday, October 15, 2002