YORK MP Hugh Bayley has added his Parliamentary weight behind plans to keep the Wasps buzzing.

The Labour MP has backed York Wasps' supporters in their endeavour to keep the club alive after it was closed by directors on Tuesday.

He is to raise at Westminster the plight of smaller professional sports clubs, and has also discussed the matter with Wakefield MP David Hinchcliffe, who heads the all-party Parliamentary group that champions rugby league.

"York City Supporters' Trust played a big part in rescuing the football club and I will do whatever I can to help Wasps supporters set up a similar trust to help the rugby club," Bayley told the Evening Press.

"It would be a tragedy if York lost the Wasps, who have been playing here for more than a century.

"I will raise the plight of smaller professional clubs in the House of Commons.

"After what has happened to York City and now the Wasps, the Government needs a policy to create the right environment for such clubs to thrive.

"I've also raised York's problems with David Hinchcliffe, who is a former league player and chairs the All-Party Parliamentary Rugby League Group. He has got interest across the sport as a whole to make sure it gets the backing it needs to thrive."

Bayley met with a group of Wasps' supporters at Huntington Stadium last night to keep up to speed with the latest developments.

Shadow Minister for Sport John Greenway in whose constituency the Wasps' Huntington Stadium base is sited, has also pledged his support to the fans' bid to revive the club provided they can get the Supporters' Trust up and running.

Meanwhile, Wasps' inspirational skipper Peter Edwards has rejoined Doncaster and could play his first game back with the Dragons in Easter Monday's National League Cup opener at Featherstone.

The former Kiwi international had stayed with York in the hope the club could be saved but, after the rescue package collapsed on Tuesday, has now gone back to Belle Vue where he was a fans' favourite before signing for the Wasps at the start of this season.

The popular ex-Salford City Reds star, who was also approached by Batley Bulldogs and Sheffield Eagles, is the latest player to join the expected exodus from the folded York club.

Former Wasps centre Gareth Lloyd has also signed for Doncaster.

The ex-York Acorn amateur, who started the season with Gateshead Thunder, is the cousin of Dragons boss St John Ellis, the former Wasps player.

Updated: 11:08 Friday, March 29, 2002