FANS favourite Craig Farrell will be back in a York City Knights shirt next season after accepting a pay-cut to return to Huntington Stadium.

And the threequarter cum back-rower is hoping his stay will be a long and fruitful one this time having signed from new LHF National League One rivals Doncaster Lakers (formerly Dragons).

Farrell, who turned 24 on Saturday, scored seven tries in ten games for the Knights at the back end of the 2004 season after joining from Hull KR, helping York reach the NL2 Play-Off final.

He then moved to Doncaster describing the decision to leave as heart-breaking but saying he could not refuse the better terms on offer.

"I didn't want to leave York in the first place," he reiterated today. "I enjoyed it here but it was just financially impossible for me to stay at that time.

"Ironically I've taken a pay cut to come back but the circumstances are different now. It was the best move for me and York's the place I want to be.

"I'd like to stop here for a good few years now and it would be nice if I could write myself into York City Knights history over the next few seasons."

Scarborough-based Farrell is into his third year of a sports studies and PE degree at York St John College and says returning to Huntington Stadium is ideal not only for his studies but also his rugby career.

He explained: "With my mate Lee Paterson being down there, I've got a feel for what (coach) Mick Cook is about. Lee's had nothing but praise for him and the things they've done. It's a big factor knowing I'll get some good quality coaching."

Farrell, who made all his previous Knights appearances as a winger, prefers playing centre or back-row but reckons he is likely to be used back on the wing at York.

"I'd like to play centre but there's Neil Law and Dan Potter at centre and they both made the NL2 Dream Team," he said.

"I've spoken to Mick Cook about it and he'd like me to play on the wing and I'm comfortable playing there. I've put a bit of size on so he's got the option of playing me at centre or back row but I can do a good job on the wing and I'm working on maybe losing a few pounds and getting some sharpness back."

As for his personal goals, he added: "Keeping a spot every week is the short-term goal. But I'd like to build on my form of last season as I had one of my best years in this division. I was pretty pleased with the way I went and the fans were pretty pleased and I'd like to improve on that."

Updated: 09:45 Friday, October 14, 2005