TWO successive promotions have put Ilkley's players in the shop window.

However, having masterminded the club's progress from Yorkshire Division One to National League Three North, Ilkley's head of rugby Rhys Morgan is hoping that none of his star attractions will be picked off.

He said: "I have already had friendly conversations with the directors of rugby from Harrogate, Otley and Huddersfield (all of National League Two North) about some of our players, and there has been a lot of interest in winger Ben Magee.

"We don't do contracts at Ilkley but at the moment Ben wants to sign for us, and hopefully that will remain so, and we also hope that prop Tom Baxter stays.

"However, we have signed scrum half Joe Bedford (ironically) from Harrogate, who can also play at ten, and winger Declan Jackson from Old Otliensians."

The latter scored a club-record 36 tries in the season just ended for the Yorkshire Division Three club, including one within a minute of the Aire-Wharfe Cup semi-final starting against Ilkley Seconds three weeks ago.

Morgan added: "Also players returning from injury, such as Will Coates, Charlie Davy and Iain Mackenzie will give us a boost, while we are keeping the back-room staff the same, although Stevie Graham will now be first-team player-coach (he was assistant player-coach).

"We are also quietly looking for a backs player-coach, although, as we did with Stevie, we are happy to wait until the right man comes along, even if that means waiting until 2016-17."

Morgan is also hoping that players such as Will Marlow, Ed Brown and Dan Nolan, not to mention his son Charlie Morgan, can push for first-team berths next season.