WHARFEDALE stalwart John Lawn has dropped a pre-season bombshell at The Avenue by announcing that he will play for Wakefield next season, (writes Tony Simpson).

The 31-year-old former captain - who has become part of the furniture at Threshfield since joining the club as an 11-year-old - has yet to sign on the dotted line at College Grove, but he confirmed yesterday that he has decided to make the move.

"From a career perspective it was now or never," said the Yorkshire captain. "I had a telephone call from their coach, Roger Burman, a couple of weeks before going to Chile on the England Counties XV tour and thought about it during that trip.

"Basically, the chance of a fresh challenge at this stage was a major attraction, as was the chance to work with the coaching staff from Bradford Bulls.

"I've trained at College Grove and been impressed with some of the ideas they have about preparation - new, interesting stuff that I'm sure will benefit me in my job with the RFU.

"I've had a few calls from clubs in the past and there was a chance of going to Rotherham for a six-week spell at one point, but that fell through.

"Other than that I've been at Wharfedale all my life and maybe I've become a bit complacement with myself. I think I'd be foolish not to give it a try."

While the financial implications of a move up in the league pecking order to National Division One will not have been a deterrent, he insists that money is by no means the driving force behind the decision and that in his view the time is right to take on something new.

"I don't want to be left wondering in later years what might have happened if I'd not made the move," he says. "I've changed clubs in other sports in the past because I thought it was the right thing to do and I'm looking forward to working with new people."

Wharfedale's response to the news was largely one of surprise, tinged with inevitable disappointment.

"You never want to lose players at any stage and certainly not one of John's influence and experience," says coach Peter Hartley. "But he's explained his motives for moving and they are entirely for the right reasons. He's his own man and he knows what he wants. There's not a lot we can do, except to wish him well.

"One consolation for us is that hooker is arguably the position in which we have best cover throughout the club.

"With Gavin Hindle and James Ogden waiting in the wings and other youngsters coming through, we have some good men to take over."

"That said, John has been an outstanding servant for Wharfedale and we'll be sad to see him go."