FANS' leader Gary Hall has outlined the need to get York Wasps readmitted to the Rugby Football League this season rather than wait for next year.

A number of supporters have suggested it might be better if the club scrapped plans to reform in time for the resumption of the Northern Ford Premiership in June and instead concentrated on getting properly set up in time for next season.

They fear that, as player departures have weakened the squad, the Wasps will suffer bad results for the rest of the season, meaning confidence and interest in the club will languish.

However, Hall - who is heading a working party to resurrect the club and form a supporters' trust to take on a big role within it - explained there would be a better chance that the RFL would allow Wasps back this year rather than next.

And he said the squad could well be boosted by players being loaned out by other clubs.

"If we wait until next year, there is a chance that, with maybe three or four clubs in similar financial straits to the Wasps, those clubs could also fold, and the RFL could be left with, in their eyes, a more manageable number of NFP clubs," he said.

"Therefore, if we applied for re-admittance then, the RFL might be more inclined to refuse.

"Also, if we don't try to get back in for June, interest might wane over time and it might be harder to get that interest back."

Furthermore, as a new league system of five divisions is being planned to replace the NFP after this season - with the NFP clubs set to make up divisions one and two - any new York franchise might not be able to jump into the top-two tiers.

In other words, York might have to begin National League life in the provisional fourth or fifth division among amateur clubs coming out of the National Conference League and Summer Conference.

Hall added though, the income brought in by events other than match-days at Huntington Stadium could be vital for the long-term viability of a resurrected Wasps.

Hall explained a professional rugby club in York would have to find an income stream on top of gate receipts and sponsorship and that could come, in some form, from events staged for the community.

"We've got to forget about being just a rugby league club," he said. "It's got to be a place of entertainment for the whole community of York.

"We need money from events and not have to rely solely on gate receipts because they fluctuate.

"We've got to have something monthly, weekly, where we're bringing cash in. We can't sit back and rely on some sugar daddy to maintain finances."

PLAYERS from New Earswick All Blacks Under-11s held a sponsored run in aid of York Wasps on Tuesday.

At the first crisis meeting held by Wasps fans last month, two youngsters got up to tell the supporters that members of the team were prepared to do this sponsored run to boost coffers for the 'Keep Wasps Buzzing' campaign fund.

And they held true to their word as they ran all the way from the All Blacks ground at White Rose Avenue, New Earswick, to Huntington Stadium.

THE former board of York Wasps are appealing for anyone who bought one of the tickets to win a new car to contact them if they want their stake back.

Following some confusion about what will happen with the draw following the closure of the 'old club', ex director Russell Greenfield has advised people to send the ticket, along with their name, address and telephone number, to York Wasps, John Stabler (Textiles Ltd), 20 Roundhay Road, Leeds, LS7 1AB so the money can be refunded.

Anybody who doesn't return their ticket/s by May 31 will lose their stake, with any left over funds set to presented to the St Leonard's Hospice, via the Evening Press.

FORMER Wasps enjoyed have had an eventful time over the weekend.

Kiwi second row Michael Smith, who faced a Kellogg's Nutri-Grain Challenge Cup semi-final against Wigan today, crossed for one of 13 tries as Castleford Tigers mauled Salford City Reds 74-16.

Ex-York skipper Peter Edwards maintained his try scoring form at his second spell at Doncaster Dragons as the New Zealand hooker helped inspire a 30-20 victory away at Featherstone in the Buddies National League Cup.

There was not as much joy for Jamie Benn, who after saying Australia was his next destination, turned out for Dewsbury Rams in the 7-6 defeat by Rochdale Hornets. Benn, who turned down a potential move to Batley Bulldogs, kicked a penalty.

In the 15-a-side code, Hull winger Leroy McKenzie and player-coach Gary Pearce has celebrated promotion from Yorkshire One after they beat York 26-21 at the weekend.

TWO stars from Leeds Rhinos and Bradford Bulls put aside their rivalries to add their support to the inaugural York Golden Jubilee Rugby League Festival.

Rhinos second row Matt Adamson and Bradford stand-off Robbie Paul teamed up to make the draw for the nine-a-side bonanza which will kick-off at June 3 at Heworth ARLFC.

The international festival, which should provide a feast of free-flowing rugby, will see the York Ironsides fly the local flag against the Army, RAF and Dublin Blues.

The top two from each group will go on to the quarter-finals.

The draw - Group A: FC Lezignan-Corbieres, North Wales Coasters, Edinburgh Eagles, London KooGas

Group B: York Ironsides, Army, Dublin Blues, Royal Air Force

Group C: Les Hussards de Paris, Cork Bulls, Teesside Steelers, South Asia Bulls

Group D: Belfast, Cardiff, Glasgow Bulls, Royal Navy.

Fans to wait for a repeat of Sully's moment of brilliance

IT wasn't the game they thought it was, but the match video played after last Sunday's supporters' meeting at Huntington Stadium was still a cracker.

For those fans craving match action, organisers of the public meeting - at which supporters were told of the latest development in the 'Keep Wasps Buzzing' campaign - ended the event by playing on video a copy of the York versus Wigan Challenge Cup semi-final from 1984 followed by a promotion tussle between York and Halifax from the old division two.

It was believed beforehand that this match was the one remembered for the incredible try-saving tackle by Graham Sullivan. However, it was a different game between the two sides, but still a thriller which saw the then Ryedale-York topple the then leaders of the division.

By the way, the commentator for the video played was apparently none other than former Evening Press sports editor and rugby league writer, Ian Lockwood.

Organiser Gary Hall said the encounter involving the famous Sullivan tackle will be played at a future meeting - much to the delight of the Wasps fans.

Hall has also passed on his thanks to City of York Council for their lending the projector he used to outline progress made by the supporters' trust working party and to play the match videos.

Updated: 11:42 Saturday, April 13, 2002