York Wasps are hoping that history is not about to be repeated after it was revealed the playing staff's latest wage cheques have bounced.

Last season York's failure to meet players' payments almost resulted in strike action but club officials insist this latest development is not due to any major financial difficulties.

It couldn't have come at a worse time though, with the Wasps still in the running for a place in the Northern Ford Premiership end of season play-offs.

The players made the discovery on Tuesday, the day before their horror show at Rochdale Hornets, which could go some way to explaining the marked contrast in their performance from Sunday's hammering of Oldham.

Their next match is not until a week today at second placed Dewsbury Rams, by which time coach Dean Robinson is hopeful the situation will have been resolved.

He said: "I can confirm the situation that some of the wages haven't been met. However I am reliably informed that there is no financial problem and that in the very near future things will be redressed and I'm happy that the board of directors have the matter in hand.

"I have been told that there will be no problem and that everybody will be brought up to speed in the very near future."

It is understood the unpaid wages cover the period from March 16 to April 15, which would incorporate five games. However the wages for the month were split into two payments and it is not known how many of the cheques have bounced.

York's chief executive Jim Race is currently on holiday and was unavailable for comment, but director Ken Hunter said today that there was 'a cash flow problem not a financial problem' and that there was several months money to come into the club from News Corporation as part of the original deal with RL by Rupert Murdoch.

Robinson's chief concern now is keeping the players' minds on the task in hand and he admitted such issues would not help in their play-off bid.

He said: "I believe we need to sort out the situation as it is human nature to have an adverse affect on what we are trying to focus on which is a top five position.

"All the club wants us to succeed in that venture and with that in mind I feel certain it will be redressed as soon as possible so that we can focus on good football again."

The Wasps squad threatened to go on strike midway through last season when the cash-stricken club revealed they did not have enough money in the accounts to pay them.

The players eventually agreed to play out the season for a percentage of the wages on the promise that they would be paid in full if they secured promotion to the first division, and though they succeeded in that mission Robinson believed it cost them the championship which went to Lancashire Lynx on points difference.

Meanwhile, several of the Wasps players are making the most of their free weekend by travelling down to Wembley for tomorrow's Challenge Cup final between Leeds Rhinos and London Broncos.

Andy Precious, Lea Tichener and Darren Callaghan will all take part in the pre-match parade around the hallowed turf.

York are among 23 clubs involved in the parade of previous Wembley finalists, each sending five representatives. Joining the current Wasps stars will be former players Geoff and Ken Hunter, the latter being a member of the current board.

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