York Wasps Academy coach Martin Flynn is set to take charge of first team affairs for Sunday's daunting match with Northern Ford Premiership big-guns Widnes Vikings.

The former Scarborough All Blacks boss will be handed the reins for the potentially humiliating Huntington Stadium clash following the resignation yesterday of coach Lee Crooks.

Flynn accepted the role today and is likely to turn to senior professional Alan Pallister for assistance, with the pair almost certain to remain at the helm for next Sunday's final match of the campaign against runaway champions Leigh Centurions.

Vice-chairman Russell Greenfield told the Evening Press: "Martin will be in charge on Sunday, working closely with Alan Pallister the club captain, and will be taking training next week.

"We are very grateful to him for taking this job on, while Alan Pallister has got a lot of experience, having been with the club for ten years."

Greenfield met with the players last night after Crooks himself had spoken to them. "I explained the situation to them and told them what the club's position was. They asked me many questions and I gave them honest answers to every one," said Greenfield.

Meanwhile, before saying his farewells to the players, Crooks issued a public word of thanks to those who had helped him.

"I'd like to thank (Wasps chief executive) Ann Garvey and (ex-director) Richard Collier for giving me an opportunity to coach professionally again," he said.

"I'd also like to thank the players who have stuck by the club. They can only be applauded for helping the club out."

Crooks must now decide what his next move will be as he bids to gets his coaching career back on track.

He is well aware jobs do not grow on trees and admitted he may find it difficult to get straight back.

His only previous experience, at Keighley Cougars, ended in similarly unhappy circumstances.

But having also taken charge of the Yorkshire team in the recent Origin Game, he is hopeful another club will give him a chance.

He said: "I'd like to think I've still got a lot to offer the game. It's just getting an opportunity to get back into it.

"It was my decision to jump off the merry-go-round and now it's up to me get back on it again.

"Hopefully someone out there will disregard what's happened at York results-wise and give me an opportunity.

"Ideally I would like to be involved at Super League level in some capacity as an assistant or on the development side.

"I still think I've got 18 months to two years' learning to do at that level. If I can't get into a Super League club then I would look at coaching at first team level in the NFP."

Crooks admitted he would love to get involved at his former club, Castleford Tigers, where his old friend and team-mate Graham Steadman is in caretaker charge.

But he added: "That is down to Graham. If he gets the job next season he will get the people in that he wants."

Updated: 12:15 Friday, June 22, 2001