YORK City Knights are to make a notable and contentious addition to the squad despite transfer deadline day having passed.

Controversial character Ian Bell is set to return to Huntington Stadium when he is released from jail on Friday, August 13, and he could play a role in the club’s Championship One promotion play-offs.

The 27-year-old one-time Super League player will be on prison licence upon his release, having served half of his 12-month sentence for assault charges.

Knights general manager Ian Wilson revealed Bell had written letters from his cell asking to come back, and said the club “after careful consideration” had decided to give him the chance to re-launch his career.

Wilson said: “He’s had problems in his past and he’s paid for them,” he said. “He’s done his time and served his punishment and we believe he deserves a second chance from us. It will be his second and final chance.

“He’s written letters saying he feels he’s changed, he’s got his head clear and he wants to resurrect his career.

“We will give him the opportunity. Hopefully he will take it.”

Bell, 27, was charged with two counts of Section 39 assault by beating (battery), two counts of common assault, harassment and Section 47 actual bodily harm on February 12 this year.

He attended Hull Crown Court on May 28 when he was sentenced to 12 months’ imprisonment after admitting a charge of actual bodily harm, putting a person in fear of violence through harassment, affray and assault by battery. The prosecution offered no evidence on the two counts of common assault.

It was the latest episode in Bell’s chequered past.

He played for both Hull and Hull KR’s first teams, before he was banned from rugby league for life in 2004 after allegedly punching and kicking an opponent and threatening a referee while playing in the amateur game.

That ban was overturned in 2008 to allow him to join Featherstone, after which he moved to Barrow, only to return to Rovers in May 2009 after disciplinary issues.

Again failing to settle, he joined York in July 2009 – signing a contract until the end of this season. He played only two games.

He attended the Knights’ opening pre-season training session for 2010 last November, but was not seen at the club again, even though he was handed the number 14 shirt for the year.