We'll try again

Player power has hauled York Rugby League Club back from the verge of extinction.

The majority of the Wasps squad agreed to play the remaining seven games of the Second Division campaign - with no payment until the end of the season.

The deal was thrashed out last night at a two-and-a-half hour meeting of players, coaching staff, chairman Trevor Cox, the players' union and the Rugby Football League.

Professional Players' Association chairman Nic Grimoldby declared the players "saved the club" by agreeing to Cox's rescue package.

Only two first team players refused to sign the agreement, captain Stuart Flowers and leading scorer Leigh Deakin standing by their original decisions to quit the club.

The remaining players said they were given guarantees on payments and they were prepared to demonstrate their "belief in the future of the club".

The squad was due back at Huntington Stadium tonight for training in preparation for Sunday's scheduled trip to Bramley.

Coach Dean Robinson was today planning to appeal to the Headingley-based side for a postponement to Tuesday or Wednesday.

However, Bramley chief executive Bill Clift said the game would go ahead on Sunday as planned as match sponsors were already in place for that day.

Cox told the Evening Press that the players were to be "applauded" for their actions.

"I am absolutely delighted that we have been able to reach an agreement and I applaud the players for their support. I am extremely grateful to each and every one who has agreed to play," he said.

"The players will be paid by the end of September. We will be in a position to pay the players. The players have rallied around and I applaud them for it.

"I fully understand why one or two felt they could not enter into an agreement. I am looking forward to us beating Bramley and doing well during the rest of the season. I still think we can win promotion."

The agreement - understood to have been bankrolled by Cox himself - gives written assurances that the players will be paid in full just weeks after the final fixture against Oldham on September 2.

Personal guarantees given by Cox, coupled with the mediation by the union and the RFL, were hailed as crucial factors in resolving the dispute, which began when players opted to quit on Tuesday.

Grimoldby claimed the players' had safeguarded the immediate future of rugby league in York.

"Our belief is, quite strongly, that the players have saved the club. If they had not agreed there would not be a club," he said.

"They have not been paid for a while and it is going to be another number of weeks before they get paid. It is a big statement by the players.

"They want to play and they want the club to continue in existence. There have been a lot of comments towards them that they are aggrieved by."

Grimoldby added that last night's events proved this was "definitely not a case of greedy players".

"With all players, the main ambition is to play rugby and they are reinforcing that commitment. I am delighted the players have chosen to play to keep professional rugby league in York," he said.

"The players were not going to agree unless they had some guarantees on what would happen. They are still not totally happy with the situation at the club and certain people's involvement at the club.

"If it had not been resolved it was finished, the club was closed. The long-term future depends on a lot of things and a lot of people pulling their fingers out.

"At the moment it is buying a little time. The problems have not gone away but what it means is you have still got a rugby league club."

Cox, meanwhile, agreed last night's decision by the players had effectively saved the club, adding: "We would have still tried to fulfil our fixtures but it would have been difficult."

RFL club financial controller David Woods claimed the decision was a triumph for a "united front".

"It is encouraging that the players have faith in the chairman and obviously he has got faith in them," said Woods.

Peter Rowe, the RFL's PR and media manager, added: "From a Rugby Football League point of view, we were very, very pleased with the honesty of the York club in informing us of their problems.

"We are happy that the situation has been resolved but obviously we are anxious that this is not a short term solution and more long term plans are put in place.

"With the blessing of the York officials we will be assisting them over the next few months to get them properly back on track. There will be some sort of monitoring operation."

However, Deakin, who has interested First Division Hunslet Hawks, declared he was "walking away from the club for good".

"Trevor has assured the players they will get paid but I said all along it is more than money and I am upset with a lot of things," said the winger.

"Nic Grimoldby has taken my case up and we shall go for a deal to ensure I am a free agent. There is no going back. I am sticking to my guns.

"The financial package is good. People will look at me and say why could I not go back. It is robbing me a chance of promotion and being the highest scorer in the division. If I have to sit out the rest of the season, so be it."

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.