THE York Wasps board have today put a £105,000 price tag on saving the ailing Northern Ford Premiership club.

Director Russell Greenfield has revealed that anyone interested in preventing the club, which ceased trading yesterday, from going out of existence have just five days to meet three requirements.

The board want an initial down payment of £35,000 - to clear the club's current overheads - and further proof that the potential purchaser can stump up £70,000 to cover the costs for the rest season. The Rugby Football League must also be convinced that whoever comes forward can stump up the money.

There have already been informal approaches by two unnamed parties to one director of the club but that is as far as those talks have gone.

The Wasps trio of Mr Greenfield, chairman John Stabler and chief executive Ann Garvey have vowed to do what they can to ensure the deal goes through in time to save the club - with the lawyers on standby to okay any deal.

Mr Greenfield told the Evening Press: "We have got permission from the Rugby Football League to continue in a bid to find a buyer by 3pm on Tuesday. If we can, then the next game against Featherstone on Good Friday can then go ahead.

"However, anyone interested has to satisfy our lawyers they can meet our requirements. We are asking for £35,000 up-front and a professional means of proof - such as a letter from the bank - that they are able to pay a further £70,000 by the end of the season.

"Basically it is £100,000 for the rest of the season, and this is to meet all the debts or creditors.

"The figures were worked out by myself and Ann Garvey and include the players contract at the basic level, an average crowd based on the attendances we have had in recent weeks and little or no sponsorship.

"Anyone interested should contact me or John, we have got our lawyers on standby to complete any deal.

"After this, whoever comes in must satisfy the Rugby Football League that they can meet the same requirements.

"We will do everything in our power to ensure that a deal does go through to save rugby league in York.

"We are pleading with people, this is really the last chance now and we need a white knight in shining armour to ride in and save us.

"We've no time for time-wasters, we have issued the figures so only people who can match them can apply."

Mr Greenfield admitted that the club is currently around £20,000 in debt, with a further £15,000 owed through sponsorship, but this is accepted to grow to £100,000 by the end of the season.

And this has forced the board to call time on the Wasps.

"We don't owe the Inland Revenue anything or the Customs and Excise. All the big boys are paid," he said. "It is mainly the salaries of the staff here.

"We took legal advice on the situation and as soon as we started trading insolvently we decided this was the only way to stop the debts mounting.

"The minor debts would have turned into major debts and this would have been irresponsible of the directors to let this happen."

Mr Greenfield has appealed for anybody, whether an individual or a group, to contact him on (07940) 935557 or Mr Stabler on (0113) 2439887 if they can save the club.

Updated: 09:01 Thursday, March 21, 2002