YORK City Knights have suffered major new blows with confirmation that prop Dean O'Loughlin has quit rugby league while star half-back Phil Hasty has been suspended by the club.

O'Loughlin, 23, has decided to concentrate fully on his budding boxing career, saying it was too good an opportunity to miss, thus leaving the Knights desperately seeking more cover in the front row.

Hasty's future at Huntington Stadium must also now be in doubt, leaving coach Mick Cook with only two other specialist half-backs Scott Rhodes and Paul Thorman to call on.

Hasty's omission from the team that lost at Batley on Sunday the same day the former Hunslet and Hull KR ace turned 26 was criticised by fans, but it has emerged he had been suspended by the club's hierarchy four days earlier.

The club told The Press the suspension was for "interval disciplinary reasons", but gave no further details. It is understood the ban officially ends tomorrow, by which time a decision on his position at York may well be made.

Big-spending National League Two front-runners Dewsbury Rams are thought to be keeping a close eye on the situation.

Knights chief executive John Guildford, who would shed no further light on the Hasty situation, was disappointed O'Loughlin had left but wished him well.

"It's a shame it's not worked out but he thinks he's got a future in boxing and we wish him all the best," said Guildford.

"Dean is still only young and could always come back, but it's difficult at this stage of the season to find decent props, or any players."

The Press reported earlier in the season that O'Loughlin had won a competition designed to unearth new boxing talent and was hoping to combine his rugby with boxing training ahead of a first professional fight, scheduled for December at the Doncaster Dome.

But he has now decided, after talks with his promoters, that he could not do both.

"It's been the hardest decision I've ever made as rugby has been my life since I was 11," he told The Press.

"I like Mick Cook he's been one of the best coaches I've ever had and I like all the boys at York, but I have to think about my own future and I want to try to earn some good money.

"I've got this good opportunity and I can't really throw it away.

"I said I would see how far I'd progress in both rugby and boxing and then make a decision. I think even if Brisbane Broncos wanted me I would still probably go this way. You can earn a lot of money in boxing.

"If it does not work out I would want to go back to York. I will still be following them and I definitely wish them all the best."

O'Loughlin made 12 appearances for York, four as a starter and eight as substitute, following his winter switch from Doncaster Lakers.

As if it couldn't get worse...

Widnes Vikings have snapped up former Super League top-scorer Dennis Moran and his debut is likely to be at York City Knights this Sunday.

The 29-year-old former Parramatta half-back scored 75 tries in 113 games for London Broncos, topping Super League's try-scoring list in 2002 and 2003, before moving to Wigan and heading their charts last term.

The Aussie has not enjoyed the best of seasons this term, however, and was sacked by Wigan last week so the Warriors could bring in compatriot Michael Dobson.

Second-rowers Jordan James and Oliver Wilkes have also joined Widnes on a month's loan from Wigan and could play at York.