YORK Wasps winger Leigh Deakin is backing plans to resurrect the club and would sign on again if the club can stay in the Northern Ford Premiership.

Aussie Ben Sorbello is another player who would look into signing back with the Wasps if matters can be resolved.

Following the closure of the club on Tuesday, Wasps fans - who are keen to form a supporters' trust to run the club - are trying to persuade the Rugby Football League to allow the Wasps to rejoin the NFP when league action resumes on June 2 once the mid-season National League Cup is over.

And 29-year-old Deakin, who has considered re-signing for York RUFC in the meantime, would go back to Huntington Stadium if the Wasps were able to keep buzzing.

"I want to wait and see what happens to the Wasps before quitting the club," said Deakin.

"I won't be signing for any other league clubs. If there's a chance of York getting back on the scene I want to stick by them.

"I can imagine that more players will leave but the main thing is to keep half a team together and struggle through this season and concentrate on next year."

Incidentally, Deakin - the Wasps' top try scorer in 1998 and joint-top in '99 - has been acquitted of a late, high tackle in the match against Workington Town, having been put on report.

Meanwhile, Sorbello, who has said he is open to offers from union clubs in the York area, has not ruled out a return to the Wasps if the club survive.

"I'm willing to stick around to see what happens," he said. "I will listen to offers but I'm not chasing other teams. If a local club comes forward I'll consider it but I'm not really willing to travel far.

"I like York, it's a nice city and I don't want to be going to a place that's depressing."

Long-serving Wasps' ace Andy Precious said this week's shock closure would likely force him into retiring from the game if the club is not reborn.

But while the manner of the club's demise saddened him he said he was more distressed for the likes of upcoming talents Jonny Liddell and Carl Barrow.

"For myself and say Pally (Allan Pallister) the fact we are near the end of our careers it's not such a big blow," said Precious.

"But for talented young players like Jonny Liddell and Carl Barrow if they don't get another club than they can fade into obscurity. For them not to be able to play at all would be a crying shame."

Updated: 11:50 Saturday, March 30, 2002