YORK Wasps have hit a brick wall in their search for a major club sponsor next season.

And chief executive Ann Garvey has cast doubt over the financial viability of the club unless they can find a backer in the near future.

A sponsors' night held at Huntington Stadium on Thursday failed to generate the sort of response Garvey had hoped for.

Although it did result in some more minor sponsorships - advertising hoardings and player sponsors - no potential major backers came forward.

It has left Garvey and her fellow directors scratching their heads over their next move.

She said: "I was terribly disappointed with the response. Everyone said how well it was organised and presented - it was just the response that was disappointing.

"It makes me wonder where we go from here.

"We have tried everything possible by writing to a lot of companies and following them up with phone calls but it's come to nothing. I've got to sit down over the weekend and decide what to do next."

She stressed that, with News Corporation funding having been cut again this year and no other money coming in, they were relying on sponsorship to keep the club afloat.

"I can't reiterate enough that without sponsorship York Rugby League will not survive and we don't want a repeat of what happened last year," she said.

"We have no money coming in for the remainder of this year except sponsorship and things still have to be paid."

A board meeting will be held to discuss the problem. Garvey is also inviting suggestions of what possible action they could take to attract companies.

By contrast, on-field preparations are at an advanced stage. Garvey said coach Lee Crooks might try to bring in two more players which would be the only further additions to the squad.

One player who will not be in that squad is Paul Darley, who had a spell as the Wasps skipper last season. He has signed for Featherstone Rovers after turning down York's offer of a new contract.

The 26-year-old back row forward joined York in 1997 from Hull FC and went on to make 59 appearances, scoring eight tries.

Two other players who won't be at Huntington Stadium next season are Brad Davis and Andrew Purcell.

Garvey laughed off rumours among Castleford Tigers supporters that former Wasps favourite Davis and fellow Australian Purcell were on their way to York.

The pair have both been released by the Tigers and Garvey joked: "We'd be delighted if they did come to York but I don't think Brad would come for match pay only!"

Davis is widely tipped to be joining Wakefield.