THE working party trying to get York Wasps readmitted to the Rugby Football League have negotiated a new rent for Huntington Stadium to help them finance the rebirth of the club.

Talks have taken place between the Wasps' working party and management from Huntington Stadium-based Courtney's Gym, whose parent company, Canon Leisure, hold a long-term lease of the ground from City of York Council.

And a deal was struck to see the Wasps continue playing at the Monks Cross arena - should they be allowed back into the league in June - at a more affordable price.

In another boost, the major music event to raise funds for the club - WaspAid 2002 - to be held at the Barbican Centre on Saturday, June 1, has hit a chord with musicians from all over the region and a definite line-up has been decided, with event memorabilia already in the pipeline.

Working party spokesman Gary Hall said the new rental agreement was a great fillip. "We've been in talks with Courtney's and they've agreed a negotiated rate for the rest of the season," he said.

Details have not been released but Hall added: "It's a rate which is workable for the supporters' trust, and to re-negotiate the deal was a generous gesture by Courtney's. It will be of major benefit to the Wasps in our quest to resurrect the club."

The Wasps' bid, led by the fans, to be readmitted to the league when the Northern Ford Premiership resumes in June, following the closure of the club by the old board last month, will be heard by RFL officials on May 1.

The working party, who are to set up a supporters' trust and new company to take on the Wasps' franchise should they get the go-ahead, met over the weekend to draw up a detailed business plan to put forward.

Furthermore, a representative of the Government-funded Supporters Direct - the body which helped York City fans form a supporters' trust - offered to meet the Wasps' working party yesterday.

As reported by the Evening Press, Supporters Direct had offered their advice, and a meeting was quickly fixed up.

Although Supporters Direct can only offer financial help to football supporters' bodies as it is funded by the football pools, York MP Hugh Bayley said Sports Minister Richard Caborn was considering broadening its remit to include rugby league clubs. If so, the Wasps fans could be among the first to benefit.

Fundraising activities are still ongoing, with the working party also continuing their request for pledges to be realised to boost the coffers ahead of their meeting with the RFL.

Updated: 12:23 Tuesday, April 23, 2002