Former general manager Mick Scaife has defended his position in the lead up to York Wasps' latest financial problems.

Scaife held the role for four months in 1998, during which time he claims the board and coach Dean Robinson did not maintain the necessary financial constraints to safeguard the club's future.

It was for that reason which Scaife claims he resigned in October that year.

The former Army warrant officer was responding to criticism that the previous administration were responsible for the current situation, which has resulted in the Wasps seeking a Company Voluntary Arrangement.

Scaife insisted the problems started at the end of the 1998 season, when the Wasps had won 'promotion' to division one.

Scaife claims he and then chief executive Phil Elliott produced a document, "The Way Forward 1999", which laid down principles towards which the club should work. They included putting the Wasps on a sound financial and administrative footing and clearing the debts.

He said: "All this would be achievable using the increased News Corporation monies, by keeping wages at a reasonable and workable level and would ensure the future of professional rugby league in York."

It also included a proposal to retain the then development officer Tony Gargan. That involved the club contributing £10,000 which would have been matched with another £10,000 by Sportsmatch.

However, Scaife claims the document was rejected by the board who instead opted for a different agenda set by Robinson, which included increased wages for players and coaching staff but did not allocate money to development or paying off creditors.

As a result both Scaife and Elliott resigned, just a couple of weeks before the late chairman Trevor Cox made a statement to the Evening Press claiming that "a new era is set to dawn on York Rugby League Club."

Scaife claims the details were the same as in "The Way Forward 1999" but did not include any of the financial constraints which were essential if it was to work. Scaife added that none of those proposals have ever come to fruition.

He said: "The blame for the current financial situation at the club does not lie with the administration of which I was a part.

"In my view it quite squarely falls on the shoulders of the board of directors who, at the end of the 1998 season, rejected a realistic budget that would have put the club on a firm financial footing by the end of 1999 for a budget which did nothing to clear the club's debts but instead gave increased pay packets to the coaching staff, players and new chief executive (Jim Race)."

Ken Hunter, who was a director at the time, is staying tight-lipped about Scaife's comments for the time being, but did say: "I probably endorse what he's saying about Mr Robinson". He added: "I always did my best."

Of his own involvement, Robinson would only say: "Players asked me for money, I put it to the board and if they agreed it we signed the player. That's how it works in all rugby league clubs."

dianne.hillaby@ycp.co.uk