ACCOUNTANT Mike Miller has estimated it could cost York Wasps just £40,000 to see out the season under new proposals - less than half of what was originally thought.

Miller, a member of the working party which is aiming to form a Wasps supporters' trust, says operating costs would be radically lower than initial estimates, should the Rugby Football League allow the restructured club to return to the Northern Ford Premiership in June.

The previous Wasps board, which folded the club and resigned from the RFL on Tuesday, estimated that immediate debts of £20,000 would rise to £35,000 by the end of March if the club kept going.

It also said it would cost an additional £70,000 to see out the rest of the season.

However, Miller explained that, based on details he'd been given, the current debts now the club has ceased trading would be "nowhere near" £35,000, while the estimated £70,000 would necessarily have to fall.

He reckoned present debts could drop to £10,000, while it would thereafter cost £10,000 per month for the remainder of the NFP season, namely June, July, August and the first week in September.

"We haven't had time to assess what the current debt would be exactly," said Miller. "Until we've seen a statement of assets and liabilities and spoken to the RFL, we don't know how much the exact figure is going to be. But it will be nowhere near £35,000 and we're confident we've got enough to cover it in pledges and donations.

"That figure of £70,000 is well out also. As we'd be playing from June, the season's costs would be over three months, not five."

These estimates are based on the assumption the RFL allow the Wasps back into the NFP when that campaign resumes on June 2 after the National League Cup, which kicked off yesterday without the Wasps, is completed. The Wasps working party are planning to meet with RFL to discuss the proposal.

Miller said operating costs between now and June would be "negligible" as the players, all of whom are on match payments only, would not be playing, while the club would pay no rent or match-day costs.

"On a restructured basis, we're looking at £10,000 per month during the actual playing season," he said. "At the moment, we've got no overheads for the next two months and current liabilities could be a lot smaller.

"We're looking at a total of £40,000 to keep the club going for the season under this restructuring, based on what we know at the moment."

Miller said that, as more than £10,000 has already arrived in pledges, the club would need to find only £30,000 more, not including income.

"We've taken no income in account," he added. "We haven't even considered gate receipts and we won't make any forecasts until we know how many people will turn up.

"We're trying to cover all the costs and assume there will be no income. That's what we're trying to achieve and we think that's the way forward."

- Meanwhile, the working party have asked that all pledges made at the public meeting or subsequently are followed through as soon as possible, with cash and cheques (made payable to York RLFC Supporters' Club) posted to Roger Dixon c/o Hague and Dixon Solicitors, Bank House, 1 The Square, Stamford Bridge, York YO41 1AG.

Miller added: "We need to turn these pledges into cash quite quickly to have a better chance with the RFL."

Updated: 10:48 Saturday, March 30, 2002