Stabler returns after stay of execution

JOHN Stabler was today back at the helm of York Wasps after the club were granted a stay of execution in the High Court, writes Dianne Hillaby.

Former chairman Stabler, who is still the largest single shareholder in the club, and ex-vice-chairman Russell Greenfield took over immediate control following the High Court's decision yesterday.

As reported in later editions of yesterday's Evening Press, the winding-up order petitioned by the Inland Revenue was deferred for 63 days to allow Stabler and Greenfield to come up with a payment plan.

Although the order means York can complete the current season they are still not out of the woods. They will have to convince the Inland Revenue before the August 9 hearing that they can produce a payment plan which they can stick to.

And Stabler believes an important part of that will be securing a major shirt sponsorship.

"We are organising meetings with other parties with a view to how we can relaunch the club. We need some serious sponsors. We want national companies with clout. By the time we go back to the High Court we want to have some positive movement on that, even if we haven't signed somebody up," he said.

There are still several issues to be discussed, including the position of the board of directors. Stabler said he and Greenfield had got the proxys from the directors for their shares but technically he was unsure of their current status.

"We didn't want to make plans then have to tear them all up if it didn't go our way at the High Court. Now we can sit down and discuss all these things," said Stabler, adding that they would be making a statement to the fans on the pitch at the next home game against Dewsbury a week on Sunday.

Another issue to be resolved is the Rugby Football League's standing on individuals being involved in the running of two clubs. Both Stabler and Greenfield are directors at Hull FC and they have not yet had chance to determine their legal position.

Stabler was today representing York at the RFL's council meeting but admitted: "It is an issue that has to be addressed. At the moment everyone in rugby league, whether in the Northern Ford Premiership or Super League, will be over the moon that we have been able to save the club.

"We have secured the immediate future of York and we are thoroughly enjoying what we're doing at Hull. But if someone sat down and said you'll have to resign one of your posts then we would have to do it."

Insolvency experts had told York to expect the worst in the High Court but Greenfield, who represented the Wasps at the hearing, was able to persuade the judge to give them time.

He earned praise from Stabler who said: "I have to say a really big thank you to Russell. It was him that came back from holiday in Spain last Tuesday and galvanised me and himself into doing the work. He has been running around like a blue bottle fly over the last week. We didn't have a lot of hope that we would get what we have got."

Chief executive Ann Garvey, who will continue the day-to-day running of the club, was delighted with the Court's decision.

She said: "It's absolutely fantastic. I've always said that all I want for York Rugby League is for the club to be playing in the next 100 years.

"I hope now that everybody, the supporters and the companies, get behind this whole thing and make it succeed."