YORK Wasps are closing in on the signatures of two key players after a month of negotiations.

The club, who have set themselves an aim of securing a place in the new-look National One for next season, are confident both players will join, but until pen is put to paper no names will be released.

Chief executive Ann Garvey confirmed one of the players - who has Super League experience - has verbally agreed to join the Wasps and is due to sign a contract soon.

"I've spoken to the player for a month, but he finally said last night he would come to York," she said. "I'm now just waiting for his signature."

Garvey added the second player was "60 per cent certain to join" but was also being tracked by four clubs.

Alongside the two transfer targets, the Wasps are on the verge of announcing the signings of "two, possibly three" French players.

As the Wasps continue to put the pieces of their squad together, Garvey believes the club are capable of earning a place in the new-look National One for 2003.

York, alongside its fellow professional rugby league clubs have unanimously supported changes to the national league structure - with a five-division summer competition planned for 2003.

The Super League will stay with 12 clubs, but incorporate six teams in the play-offs, while the 19 members of the Association of Premiership Clubs will split to form National One and National Two.

The top nine will go into National One, with the sides in tenth to 15th spots to play off for the last place. The remaining clubs will play in National Two with a tenth team - either through promotion of the formation of a new club - to join in 2004.

The top ten amateur clubs will make up National Three, while the Summer Conference will form National Four.

Garvey, who attended the meeting at Headingley, believes the decision is good news for both the Wasps and rugby league as a whole.

"It was an excellent meeting," she said. "It was very long, but the result was excellent, with a lot of the grey areas cleared up.

"I think it will be good for rugby league, it will put it back on the map.

"Our intention is to make it into National One. The top nine teams will go straight into this division, while the teams in tenth to 15th will play-off for the final place, so we will have two bites of the cherry to make it."

Meanwhile, the Wasps have announced their season ticket details for the new campaign, with a special 'early bird' offer for those who buy before the end of the month.

Seating tickets will cost £110 for adults and £77 for senior citizens and juniors, but on November 1 these prices will rise to £120 and £84 respectively.

Standing tickets are priced at £88 for adults and £55 for senior citizens and juniors, rising to £96 and £60 respectively.

The ticket prices are for league games only and not for the cup. For more information, contact the club on York (01904) 634636.

Updated: 11:43 Thursday, October 04, 2001