THE search for players will soon be stepped up by York City Knights - but not until new boss Paul Broadbent takes a deserved holiday.

The former Great Britain international, who was to undergo a shoulder operation this week, goes away for a fortnight early next month to relax after a grinding season in Super League with Wakefield Trinity Wildcats.

However, on his return to England in mid-October, he and Knights chief executive Steve Ferres will start to turn initial approaches into firm signings ahead of the club's first season in the new-look National League division two.

"I've already done a lot of work behind the scenes at York, ringing players and talking to Steve on a regular basis," Broadbent told the Evening Press.

"We've made a bit of progress but things don't happen overnight and there is nothing concrete with players yet as many of them have been concentrating on the (Northern Ford Premiership) play-offs."

Ferres will take charge of player contracts, while Broadbent, who will come to York as player-coach, will be concentrating on getting things right on the field.

As reported by the Evening Press, the 34-year-old ended his glittering Super League career by playing 50 minutes of the Wildcats' 50-10 defeat of Warrington on Sunday, a result which kept Wakefield in Super League.

"It was nice to be involved in helping them to stay up," he said. "It should not have been as close as it was but they're in Super League for another year and I'm glad for them.

"I've finished my commitments with Wakefield now and after I return from holiday we will start to sort things out (at York).

"As soon as I get back we'll look at getting a trial match organised and we should start to make serious headway then."

As reported by the Evening Press, the Knights are keen to build a squad with some experience but with a focus on talented youngsters who 'have the right attitude and want to go forward with the club'.

However, although some of the targets have been on the fringes of Super League, fans have been warned not to expect a lot of big-name recruits.

Broadbent explained: "We're approaching anybody who we think will be an asset to us, who we can do something with, but within our price structure.

"We can't go chasing top-line players and expect them to come and play on a limited budget. We are working to a tight budget so we've got to make sure everything is in perspective. There's no point chasing players we can't afford."

Broadbent is hoping his own on-field preparations will not be hit too hard by the shoulder surgery.

The prop, who has been playing despite suffering a shoulder tear midway through the season, will need 16 weeks to recover after his operation.

"I don't want it to drag on and become a problem at the start of next season, so hopefully I'll have the operation before I go away," he said.

Updated: 11:58 Thursday, September 26, 2002