YORK Wasps might ask to play matches at York City's Bootham Crescent ground next season if their audacious bid to become a Super League club is successful.

The Wasps are planning to upgrade their Huntington Stadium to Super League standards but if the developments are not complete in time for the March kick-off - should Wasps be a Super League club by then - they might approach the Minstermen with a ground-share proposal.

As reported in the Evening Press and on our website -www.thisisyork.com - the Wasps are hoping to buy out Virgin's major shareholding in the London Broncos and merge the two clubs, after which they would relocate the new club to York under the name York Wasps Ltd.

But even if their bid is successful, the capacity at Huntington Stadium would not meet Super League guidelines, so the Wasps would need to act quickly.

"It would be a massive job and to be honest I would not expect it to be ready for next season. I expect we might have to try to do a deal with York City," Wasps vice-chairman Russell Greenfield told the Evening Press.

"Our chairman John Stabler has made a tentative inquiry to City chairman Douglas Craig. If we can't get our stadium upgraded in time, he would make a serious approach to Mr Craig."

But he added: "Stadiums have been built or upgraded quickly before. If we get the co-operation of everybody involved - the council, the planning department, the contractors, etc - it can be done. There are ways and means.

"Regardless of whether we merge with the Broncos or not, we will be hoping to upgrade the stadium because we aim to be in the Super League in three years' time."

The idea of Wasps ground-sharing at Bootham Crescent has been mooted before, especially since they left their old Wigginton Road home for Huntington Stadium in October 1989, but is yet to get over the start line.

However, Wasps have played at Bootham Crescent once before in recent years, when they lost 28-9 to Leeds in a Challenge Cup match in January 1989.

Meanwhile, Charlton Athletic FC, whose Valley ground hosts Broncos matches, are also in the running to take over the Super League club, but if a deal cannot be brokered - it is believed the CAFC board are meeting early next week - both York and Northern Ford Premiership champions Leigh are likely to fight for the franchise, with Greenfield set to meet Virgin officials next week.

He said: "Most people, barring ourselves and Leigh, want Broncos to stay in London. But if Charlton don't take over the club and there is no other deal available in London, then it will have to move north."

Updated: 11:02 Saturday, September 01, 2001