DEPARTING York Wasps coach Leo Epifania returns to his native Australia tomorrow with a resounding message of support to the fans.

Epifania's early morning flight will mark an end to five difficult months in charge of the Wasps but, rather than bear grudges against the club, he is wishing the supporters all the best in their bid to resurrect the Northern Ford Premiership outfit.

And his advice to them is to roll their sleeves up and concentrate on setting the foundations for future seasons.

"You need genuine people to run football clubs and you couldn't get anyone more genuine than the supporters," he told the Evening Press.

"It is the fans that make the club and they would run the club with their hearts. You can depend on them to give 100 per cent and do their very best for the club."

Wasps fans are trying to set up a supporters' trust to take charge of the club and get it readmitted to the NFP once the campaign resumes in June following the completion of the mid-season National League Cup.

The Wasps were pulled out of the Cup after folding last week and have provisionally resigned from the Rugby Football League, a move which has seen Epifania out of a job and several players leave.

"Everyone knows I was pretty hard done by because of certain things, but regardless of that I still have the greatest respect for my players and for a lot of people I've met who are genuine football people," said the highly-regarded Aussie.

"I hope whichever way the club goes from here is the right path and that something like this does not happen again."

Whether the club rejoin the NFP this year or not, Epifania - who will now use his contacts Down Under to find a new coaching role - reckons the supporters' trust should concentrate on creating good foundations and a positive vibe for the future.

"Rebuilding takes hard work. Sometimes clubs shouldn't plan for success in the first year or two; they should look to build up the structure and build a platform.

"I would like to see the best for the club and the fans. I would like to see the club develop and be successful, not just in the short-term but long-term.

"If you do the groundwork, you've got a good chance of surviving in the long-term and being successful."

Updated: 09:12 Wednesday, April 03, 2002