Former Great Britain international Lee Crooks has thrown his hat into the ring for the York Wasps coaching job.

The ex-Keighley Cougars boss revealed he had applied for the post soon after Dean Robinson's resignation last week.

He is now waiting for the board to make their final decision but is hopeful he will prove the right man for the job.

Speaking to the Evening Press, Crooks said: "I have spoken to some people down at York and would be very interested. When the job became available I did put in for it.

"I appreciate at the present time the board have got other matters to sort out in regard to the situation with Dean Robinson but I think, in time, they'll pick who they think is best suited to the job and I hope it will be me."

Crooks, 36, was capped 17 times for Great Britain in an illustrious playing career with Hull FC, Leeds and Castleford.

He still lives in Castleford where he works as a business development manager for a pub company. Geographically, the York job would be an ideal way for Crooks to get back into the game as he has not been involved since leaving Keighley in the early part of last season.

He also believes there is plenty of potential at York to make the club a success

"The squad of players that are down there are under-achieving and I feel that I could do quite a lot with the squad of players. My connections with Hull and Castleford would benefit the club tremendously," he said.

"I also feel that because of my background in the game I could bring a bit of stability and bring some interested parties into the club which could help them financially.

"I always like to get involved in the marketing and I do have contacts in the job I do now which could help."

Crooks was in charge at Keighley for just over a season, during which time he insists he had a reasonable record.

However, he believes a lack of patience from the Cougars board was the main reason for his departure.

He recalled: "They were looking for immediate success and that doesn't happen. In my first season I took over after four games and they hadn't won a game. We turned things around slightly in the first nine games and in the last 21 we won 13 and finished five points outside the top five.

"In the next season we'd played 10, won five and lost five when I was dismissed. I made some mistakes which I'm prepared to hold my hands up to but I think it was more financial than results. We just needed a bit of time but the club weren't prepared to be patient and I suffered the consequences."

Ex-Welsh international and York player Gary Pearce has also expressed an interest in the York job.

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