Ambitious York Wasps are calling on the city's business community to boost their bid for first division success.

Chairman: Trevor Cox

The club have admitted that unless they can raise a further £60,000 in sponsorship to bolster the squad, they could struggle as the season progresses.

Coach Dean Robinson revealed the budget would not allow him to add to his current 22-man squad because of the salary cap constraints. And he stressed that was not enough players to see them through the season.

Speaking at last night's sponsorship evening at Huntington Stadium, Robinson said: "We will be going all out to establish ourselves in this division and make sure we don't let anybody down.

"I can't guarantee results but I guarantee the players will give 100 per cent on the field. I'm pleased we have got to be a professional club in such a short time because two years ago we were not a professional club, perhaps no more professional than the fourth amateur club in York.

"But we still have to convince the public of York to get behind us. With the salary cap it is very difficult without the support off the field to go any further than a squad of 22 players, and off field revenue is very poor.

"It is difficult to find another first division club with such a limited off field revenue as we've got. Unless we can get that revenue to allow us to get the squad up to 25 throughout the season we will struggle.

"If we can generate £60,000 from all spheres of sponsorship that would give us the money in the kitty to do that."

With the Challenge Cup getting underway on Sunday and the league campaign kicking off the following week, the Wasps are yet to secure a main sponsor after one major deal fell through.

And they are still seeking smaller sponsorships, ranging from £100 to £12,000, for programme adverts, players, squad positions, perimeter advertising boards, matchballs, match sponsors, season sponsor, associate and executive sponsors and drill tops.

Chairman Trevor Cox confirmed that despite the team's success last season, they were still some way short of selling all of its available sponsorships.

He said: "The club hasn't sold many of its sponsorship packages and if we are to buy a team worthy of the coaching staff and the supporters we are going to need to sell those packages.

"We are ambitious for this club. We want it to be a success. We haven't had any success for years until last season and now we have the nucleus of a really good team.

"If we can get the financial and vocal support we need then we can go from strength to strength and can be in the top six in the first division."

Cox once again said that had the club not won promotion from the second division, and the reward of £325,000 of Sky TV money, they would not have been in a position to start this season.

He added: "We've made lots of mistakes but we decided at the beginning of last year it was make or break and we gambled. That gamble nearly ruined the club but if we had not gambled I am almost certain we would not be here today.

"We are not in this division to simply hold our own. We intend to aim for one of the play-off places at the very least and I am confident we can do well."

Local firm Guildford Construction Ltd, a long term supporter of the club, will be sponsoring the new-look shirts for Sunday's cup clash and the following few games.

Wasps chief executive Jim Race revealed the traditional-style shirts will be one of several designs used during the season with the supporters getting the final say on their preferred choice.

Details of all sponsorships on offer can be found in a promotional package available from the club office at Huntington Stadium, telephone 01904 634636.

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