IT was interesting to note that Barrow Raiders have become the latest Northern Ford Premiership outfit to encounter financial difficulties.

Of course, York Wasps are the only club to have folded so far this year - and let's pray for a successful resurrection in time to get back into the league - but, let's be frank, it won't be a shock if other NFP clubs go the same way before the season is out.

The list of semi-professional clubs experiencing financial difficulties is ever-increasing, with the Cumbrian club now adding their name to the register.

They have reportedly taken out a substantial business loan to help them see out the rest of the current season.

Apparently, the loan repayments depend on whether the club is seen to have a viable future come the end of the season. If it is, then repayments will be comfortably spread over a number of years but, if not, they will be accelerated, which could leave the Raiders in dire straits.

No doubt everyone who likes rugby league will wish them all the best, but the scary thing is that if this kind of thing can happen in Barrow, which is a rugby league town through and through, then each and every NFP club could well be in danger.

The fingers of blame are no doubt pointing here, there and everywhere again, but nothing by the people in power seems to be being done about it.

Yes, Barrow the club are working overtime to save it and their fans are doubling their efforts to make it viable, but surely it is time something is done from above to stop the rot, not just at Craven Park but throughout the NFP - including York Wasps.

If so many Premiership clubs are struggling to survive, is it right that each club should be held individually responsible or is there a collective accountability throughout the sport that should carry at least some of the can?

There is an argument that professional sports clubs, if they want to prosper, now need to be seen not just as businesses but also as brands, with the fans as the customers.

But surely it is the sport of rugby league that is the biggest brand, and, paradoxically, the more it leaves behind the essence of sport then the more the quality of the brand is reduced.

ON that point, let's hope that the new Rugby Football League executive chairman Richard Lewis can help turn things round.

Critics have claimed that Lewis has little grounding in the sport, but maybe that will be of benefit as he will have no coloured, discoloured or biased conceptions as he takes on his role.

Lewis, who will chair all the meetings of both the Association of Premiership Clubs as well as those of Super League, was introduced to the Northern Ford Premiership clubs last week where the NFP outfits aired their views about the state of the game and their hopes for the future.

Crucially, the plight of the Wasps was one of the topics discussed, with all clubs saying they were hopeful that the Huntington Stadium outfit will be able to return for the resumption of NFP action in June.

Coincidentally, Lewis officially starts his new job on Wednesday, May 1, the day the RFL are to decide the immediate fate of the Wasps.

As reported by the Evening Press, the RFL's meeting on May 1 will either accept or reject the business plan put forward by the Wasps' working party, which is hoped to see the club readmitted to the league.

YORK Wasps fans leader Gary Hall has seemingly pulled off another coup in the plight to save the club, this time by getting Sky Sports cameras down to the city.

As reported by the Evening Press, a film crew went to Heworth ARLC's Elm Park Way on Thursday night (Heworth have kindly allowed the Wasps to train there for free) to tape the Wasps' players having a run-out.

It appears Sky Sport's rugby league show is to run an item on the Wasps' bid to be readmitted to the league, and this kind of national publicity can only be a good thing.

The item will also include the fans' attempts to raise money for the cause and, on that note (pardon the pun), the cameras will also be taping band Griffins Bridge rehearsing for the big WaspAid 2002 bash at York's Barbican Centre.

Griffins Bridge guitarist Andy Hall is the man behind the major gig, which is planned to see up to 20 up-and-coming local bands each play sets of 20 minutes or so, all in one big effort to raise cash for the resurrection bid.

By the way, for those of you who were wondering, Andy Hall is indeed Gary Hall's son.

And talking of that duo, both they and accountant Mike Miller and solicitor Roger Dixon, as well as everyone else who has worked like Trojans to help resurrect the club, deserve the highest of praise.

Let's pray their efforts don't go to waste.

FORMER York Wasps coach Lee Crooks will return to Huntington Stadium next month, it has been confirmed.

However, as reported by the Evening Press, it will only be for one night as he attends a comedy evening at the stadium, which has been organised to raise money for the Great Britain Women's Rugby League team.

The ex-British Lion and now Yorkshire Women's coach, along with fellow former GB great Kevin Beardmore, are among the names who are likely to go to the bash on Thursday, May 2.

Former GB Women international Julie Cronin, from York, and GB physio Paula Clarke, who is also based in the city, are likely to be there too.

The event will include a buffet and feature two top comedians, Chrissie Rock, the award-winning Ladybird Ladybird star, and Charlie Hale, who was made famous on the television show Stand and Deliver.

Former York Wasps general manager Roland Davis, now a manager for GB Women, said: "It will be a laugh from start to finish, a hell of a good night."

Admission is by ticket only (£15), and the night starts at 7.30pm in the Galtres Bar. For more details contact 01904 635932.

Updated: 12:02 Saturday, April 20, 2002