MICK Ramsden is set to enter his tenth season with his beloved York Wasps after re-signing for the club.

The second row forward, who turns 30 in November, has become the latest player to put pen to paper as the Wasps' recruitment drive continues to gather steam.

As reported in the Evening Press, Ramsden - whose nine years at Huntington Stadium have been pierced only by two seasons with Wakefield Trinity - had considered quitting the sport last year during another injury-plagued season.

However, he decided he did not want his final year to be the worst in the history of the club and, at the end of last season, told the Evening Press he was likely to have one last campaign before hanging up his boots.

And now, with the financial troubles behind the club, major new sponsors on board and a host of proven professional players set to boost the squad, he has confirmed his desire to help put York back on the rugby league map by signing a one-year deal.

Wasps chief executive Ann Garvey also said it was not definite that this would be his final year.

"I think it would depend on how he feels at the end of this season," she said.

"If he's playing well and having a good season, then that's something we will have to discuss with him towards the end of the season. But if he does leave, hopefully he'll go out on a high."

She added: "I'm delighted to have him back. He's very much a favourite here, he's an absolute workhorse and he's very dedicated. He's very much a club man and was pleased to sign."

Garvey was also hopeful Ramsden's injury problems - a knee problem forced him to miss large parts of the 1999 and 2000 campaigns while hamstring trouble ruled him out of the first half of last season - would now be behind him.

"He's had some very bad injuries but he's gone through all the relevant treatment and he's overcome them. He's training now and we feel he's over his problems."

Updated: 11:39 Friday, September 28, 2001