HEAD coach Mick Cook reckons York City Knights have a wonderful future after guiding them to the LHF National League Two title.

Cook's braves came back from 22-0 down at Hunslet to win 24-22 amid amazing scenes at South Leeds Stadium, those two points guaranteeing the Knights the sole automatic promotion spot with two games to spare.

And while he joked they needed to work out how to win games without shredding so many nerves, he said the club was well placed to kick on from here.

"We've got a great support base and everything is in place," he said.

"The club is going forward. The directors have put some good systems in off the field and we're planning to improve on the field.

"We will be looking to strengthen the squad and, now we've secured promotion, we can sit down and look at attracting players to the club."

The match itself was a thriller, and Cook admitted the way it panned out was "not in the game-plan".

"We probably need to look at how to win games easier," he joked.

"I've not got much hair and it's getting worse - it's never going to grow back.

"There have been a few matches like that, though. The character and team spirit is there."

He added "We probably earned the right to win the competition because of our character, commitment and the fact we play for 80 minutes.

"I thought it would go right to the end of the season to be honest, but we've done it with two games left. Other sides had some real strong recruitment but I always believed we had the squad to win the competition."

As for the match, he added: "We got outplayed in the first half but our try at the end got the wheels back on the truck. In the second half we went forward better and got more territory.

"But we do go the long way round to win games.

"I don't think nervousness was a real part of the first half. We were just struggling to deal with what Hunslet were throwing at us. In the second half we were dominant for long periods, scored the tries and got the goal at the end of it to win."

Cook, who won titles and premierships as a player, added: "It's sweet. Anything linked with success is sweet.

"We've worked pretty hard - the players and the coaches. We've worked hard to give them the best treatment we can, the skills, the videos, the conditioning. We've deserved it I think.

"We've been the most consistent side and won a few games we perhaps shouldn't have won when our character got us through. I'm pretty happy at the moment."

Chairman Roger Dixon hailed everyone at Huntington Stadium after witnessing an historic chapter in the Knights' story.

"It's a step in the right direction," said Dixon, holding back the emotions.

"I'm delighted for everyone who has put the time, effort and support in. In particular I'd like to pay tribute to Mick Cook, the coaching team and, of course, the players."

Dixon's name was chanted by Knights fans as he was chaired in the air by exuberant players.

"I was overwhelmed," he said. "And I receive that not just for me but for (directors) John Guildford, Dave Gorwood and everyone else who has worked so hard to achieve this step on the journey."

Updated: 11:26 Monday, August 22, 2005