York Wasps have launched an historic bid to bring Super League rugby to the city next season.

Wasps vice-chairman Russell Greenfield revealed today that he had been in negotiations with the London Broncos in an attempt to take over the Super League outfit.

Greenfield said he was trying to set up a deal to buy Virgin's major shareholding and then relocate the club to Huntington Stadium and rename it York Wasps.

"I have approached Virgin on behalf of the York Wasps board of directors to buy their shares in London Broncos," Greenfield told the Evening Press.

"Virgin are pulling out their support in the Broncos and we are very interested in a take-over or merger. Hopefully, if it's successful, it will mean York Wasps will be playing Super League rugby next season."

There has already been speculation that the Broncos' franchise was likely to relocate to Leigh, winners of the Northern Ford Premiership last season, or even Oldham, who lost in the NFP play-off final to Widnes, who have since been promoted to the Super League.

Greenfield, however, said there was unlikely to be any legal reason why Wasps - who finished bottom of the NFP last season after financial troubles - could not get Broncos' Super League spot.

"Many people might say Leigh or Oldham deserve to go into Super League more than us, but I can't see any reason legally why we can't do it.

"If we own Virgin's shares, we will effectively own the club and we will be able to relocate it and rename it. Even if Super League bosses tried to stop this move, I doubt they would have a legal leg to stand on."

Greenfield stressed the attempted take-over, whether successful or not, would not affect the ground-breaking sponsorship deal which the Wasps are to officially announce in a press conference on September 18.

"I have spoken to the sponsors and they are 1,000 per cent behind this move," he said.

"Whether we get the deal with the Broncos or not, we have still got fantastic backing."

Updated: 17:24 Thursday, August 30, 2001