CHRIS THORMAN is close to agreeing a new two-year deal with York City Knights, The Press can reveal.

The former England captain is also optimistic of defying doctors’ orders and playing again this year – boosting the Knights’ battle to beat relegation from the Championship – after having the wires taken out of his broken thumb ahead of schedule yesterday.

Thorman, 30, the ex-Super League and NRL star, was the club’s marquee signing ahead of the 2010 season, when he arrived as player/assistant-coach.

The Geordie, who also works in the club’s community development department, which includes coaching York College’s team, is set to stay in the same role should the final details of his contract be “ironed out”.

His deal is not thought to be dependent on Dave Woods agreeing to stay as head coach – the Aussie’s contract talks have been delayed by family commitments – and if terms can be finalised, it will continue an eventful Huntington Stadium spell for Thorman.

He was thrust into taking temporary charge for two months at the start of 2010 due to then head coach James Ratcliffe’s suspension, when they won six of eight matches.

He continued as an assistant to Woods when the Aussie replaced Ratcliffe that summer and was the club’s on-field general as they sparked into life to win the Championship One play-offs.

This season, Thorman has scored 13 tries, 45 goals and three drop goals in 38 appearances – the last of which saw him break a thumb in the dramatic victory at Dewsbury on June 26, sealed by his last-minute match-winning touchline conversion.

This injury looked set to rule him out for the season, but he remains confident of playing a further part in the Knights’ fight for survival.

Doctors recommended staying on the sidelines till the season’s end, but Thorman, who came out of hospital in Wakefield last night after his latest surgery, said: “I’ve never really listened to doctors on things like this.

“I’ll take it a day at a time but I’m definitely optimistic.

“We’ve got four games left and we have two blank weekends in that time. I think we’ll need to win at least one (to stay up) and if I can contribute to that then I’ll be happy.”

Meanwhile, Woods’ offer has been on the table since last Wednesday and both parties have been confident of reaching agreement.

However, a range of family commitments – including worrying illness to his wife, Joanne – have held up proceedings, and The Press understands the Australian former Gateshead boss was wanting to sit down with his family, who are still based in the North East, before committing himself.

One of the issues they faced was the fact he spends a lot of time away from home, both with the Knights and at the Cross Key pub he runs on Tadcaster Road.

Joanne needed hospital treatment just as relatives arrived on holiday from Australia in the week before the Toulouse game – something Woods kept private.

She is now well again, but Woods had some family time at the back end of last week, and at the weekend his pub was kept busy by nearby York Races.

He left for London immediately after Sunday’s game at Halifax to see off his sister-in-law’s family, but only got home in Gateshead at midnight on Tuesday.

Furthermore, his own brother is now visiting, while it was his daughter’s birthday on Wednesday.

A decision on his future is still thought to be imminent.