DAVE WOODS says he is happy at York City Knights – and wants to agree new terms quickly so the club can focus on player recruitment.

As reported by The Press, the club have opened talks with the Aussie to extend his stay at Huntington Stadium, regardless of whether they remain in the Co-operative Championship or go back down to Championship One.

The 46-year-old, who joined York in April 2010 as director of rugby, led them to play-off glory in Championship One having replaced James Ratcliffe as head coach last summer, and they currently lie above the drop zone in their bid to consolidate in the higher tier.

The Press understands he has been on a rolling agreement at Huntington Stadium, as opposed to a hard contract, and both parties are “pretty confident” agreement on an extension is afoot, once a “couple of little things” have been sorted out.

Woods, who also runs the Cross Keys pub in Tadcaster Road despite having his base in the North East, said: “I want to stay at York. I’m happy at the club.

“I think everything will get sorted out.”

Negotiations have already begun with some of Woods’ front-line players to keep them at Huntington Stadium in 2012, and he says it is important the head coach’s role is in place for their sake.

“Many of the players I’ve spoken to want to know if I will be here or not. It’s nice for me personally to know they want to know that,” he said.

“It’s important when you’re going to speak to players that they know who’s going to be coach. They can decide if they do or don’t want to stay. It helps to attract other players as well.

“It’s important it gets done and is sorted.”

Woods has also been pleased with some of the development behind the scenes, not least introducing the under-18s team and having the reserve-grade training with the first-team in pre-season, as well as the recent creation of a squad builder fund to help with player recruitment.

“You can see the improvement in the players there,” he said. “The younger players have been lifted by it and they’re all making the club as a whole a lot stronger.”

He added: “The club is a good club. It’s well run. We’ve got some real good kids, some good young players and some good experienced players. We just need a couple more to add to that and I think we will do all right.”

The Knights U18s host Leigh U18s in their first home game of the ‘extended scholarship’ campaign tonight (8pm).

The young Knights enjoyed a great victory over an experienced Keighley outfit in their inaugural match, but coach Jack Stearman has had to bring in a few new faces as Jack Law, Scott Stevenson, Dean Layton, Eddy Clapham, Chris Rushworth, Antony Chilton, Gaz Allott and Haiden Barber have all been promoted to Mick Ramsden’s reserve team squad due to Rugby Football League rules.

Knights U18s: from Tomlinson, Gareth Smith, Pooley, Cashmore, Baxter, Hannigan, Brewer, Fitzsimmons, Raywood, Porter, Hutchinson, Townend, Colrein, Lewis Smith, Scales, Johnson, Crowther. Admission is £3 for adults, £1 for u16s.

The Knights are taking bookings for the supporters’ bus to Sunday’s crucial Championship match at Halifax.

Prices are £14 for club members and £18 for non-members and the bus will pick up from the Ainsty (12.15pm), Clarence Street (12.30pm) and Huntington Stadium (12.45pm).

To book, visit the Knights’ Roland Court office or phone 01904 767404. For train times and fares, go to www.tpexpress.co.uk