ANYBODY interested in saving York Wasps must come up with a "workable and sustainable plan" by Tuesday for the club to survive.

That is the message from the Rugby Football League, who have indicated it is highly unlikely that the deadline for bids - 3pm on Tuesday, March 26 - would be extended.

Therefore, even if it is agreed at Sunday's meeting to set up a Supporters' Trust, any steering committee would have only 48 hours to form a firm proposal.

And such a proposal would require financial backing - or proof that a sustainable financial commitment would be available - to cover the club's debts and running costs up until the end of the season, which total about £105,000.

Despite the short time-scale, Gary Hall - the man behind the idea of setting up a fans' trust - remains determined to try everything to save the club, by encouraging sponsorship and, more importantly, by proving to potential buyers that there is strong support for the club.

The RFL today confirmed they would not help out financially and could offer assistance only to individuals or groups who came forward with a workable and firm plan of action.

"We took a policy decision some years ago not to support financially clubs that find themselves in financial trouble," said RFL media manager John Huxley.

"We can offer advice and practical help but no finance. We feel that clubs should be free-standing businesses capable of standing on their own two feet.

"If somebody comes forward and takes up a commitment to run the club, there are things we could do to help. The RFL have made it clear that if anybody arrives with a suitable plan to secure the future of the club we would listen to it sympathetically.

"But that plan has to be workable. We would have to be convinced that the club has a real chance of living."

Hall - who has arranged a public meeting to take place at Huntington Stadium on Sunday at 2pm with the aim of setting up a supporters' trust - is hopeful there is someone out there who could be willing to save the club.

"The object of this meeting is to show any prospective purchaser there is a strong fan base," he told the Evening Press.

"We are going to try to raise some cash for the cause, however I do realise there is no way on earth that we could ever envisage a supporters' trust raising that much money in two days, unless a person at the meeting says 'I've got a business' or 'I've this money'.

"But like I said, we could sit down and do nothing or we could stand up and be counted."

When York City fans vowed to set up a trust, it took over three weeks from the date of the first public meeting (January 7) to the formal launch of the trust (February 1), and that was believed to be the fastest-ever formation of a supporters' trust.

Hall said: "We have got nowhere near the amount of time that York City had but by doing what we are doing, it proves there is a fan base to work with.

Members of the York City Supporters' Trust have confirmed they will attend the meeting to offer advice and support, while several supporters of rival clubs and from other fans' associations have indicated they too will turn out.

Coach Leo Epifania and the players have said they will be there, while former club president Denzil Webster, the secretary of the ex-players association, has called out for all former York players to attend.

He said: "It would be a very sad time if the club folds. I don't know what we can do but we will try anything. We've got to."

Updated: 08:53 Friday, March 22, 2002