YORK Wasps chairman John Stabler has admitted talking to Hull FC star Paul Broadbent - but only to say hard luck after the Airlie Birds' Play-Off elimination.

Speculation had abounded linking Wasps with an ambitious move for the former Great Britain prop, but the club have scotched those rumours, saying he would be way out of their financial reach - for the time being.

Broadbent, whose contract at the Boulevard is not to be renewed, played his last game for the club in their 24-20 home defeat by St Helens in the Super League elimination semi-final on Friday,

And with his future yet to be decided, the rumour mill churned out speculation that the Wasps - with Stabler and vice-chairman Russell Greenfield being former directors at Hull - would try to secure his signature.

However, Stabler told the Evening Press: "I've no idea where these rumours came from and they are completely unfounded.

"I watched him at the Boulevard on Friday and I spoke to him after the game to say 'well played and shame about the result', but that's all.

"I know him from my time at Hull and he's a nice guy and a very good player. But we haven't spoken to him regarding playing for York Wasps."

He added, however, that the Wasps remained determined to be able to bring in such quality players in the future as part of their five-year plan to get into Super League.

He said: "He's a full-time Super League professional who is quite well paid and we could not put together a package that would interest him - at this stage of our development."

Meanwhile, Wasps have said they will back new plans for the Northern Ford Premiership to have a 28-game season pierced by a new National Cup competition.

The Rugby Football League Council meet tomorrow to discuss a number of Super League and NFP issues, one of which is the format for the new NFP season to bring it into line with the Super League summer term.

The meeting of the clubs last Friday was expected to see agreed a full 36-match season for the 19 NFP clubs, with the play-offs set to run through to the end of next September so that the 2003 season can run alongside Super league.

But it now seems likely that this new plan, comprising a similar league season to last year plus a new one-off cup competition, will be accepted instead, still starting on December 2.

The Wasps would have accepted either. Chief executive Ann Garvey said: "As long as there is one division this year with all 19 clubs getting the same chance to finish in a position to guarantee a place in the new division one the following year, we will be happy."

Friday's meeting also saw Super League clubs rebuke plans to reduce the league from 12 to ten teams.

Garvey added: "Providing there is promotion and relegation, we think it's immaterial whether there are ten or 12 clubs in there. We just think it is essential that there is guaranteed promotion and relegation."

Updated: 09:24 Tuesday, October 02, 2001