RFL launch rescue bid

The Rugby Football League today stepped into the crisis engulfing York Rugby League Club.

An official from the game's governing body was visiting the club today in a bid to resolve the dispute between players and the board.

Chief executive Neil Tunnicliffe told the Evening Press that the players' boycott over unpaid wages and the threat to Sunday's trip to Bramley was of "primary concern".

Tunnicliffe, who learned of the dispute last night, revealed that an official was planning to talk to members of the York board and report back to Red Hall today.

Said Tunnicliffe: "An official of the Rugby Football League was going across to York today with the intention of speaking to the directors to attempt to find a solution and how to carry things forward.

"Clearly if the players are not being paid and there is a threat of fixtures not being fulfilled that is our primary concern."

The chief executive declined to comment on the possible courses of action but admitted there was a precedent for the RFL taking over the running of a club.

"It is not something we like to do. We have in the past taken a significant part in the running of Doncaster," he said.

"There is a range of options we can look at. Until we have actually gone there and talked to directors and found out it is difficult to point to a way forward. Anything would be pure speculation."

The RFL face a race against time to resolve the situation before Sunday's fixture.

Tunnicliffe virtually ruled out the possibility of York fielding a side comprising Academy and local amateur players, insisting RFL regulations state clubs must "field the best side in every available circumstance".

The chief executive added that he was hopeful of finding an interim solution before the weekend.

Several players called for the governing body to step in and take over the running of the club in the wake of last night's meeting at Huntington Stadium.

Prop forward Craig Booth said: "We have all said if they (the RFL) do that we will play for York. We have no qualms with York, it is the committee.

"The Rugby League are not going to let the club fall out of the Second Division, one of the best clubs in the division who could get promoted."

Assistant coach John Paterson agreed that the players would be willing to return to the club under a new regime.

"We have an agreement with the players that if something drastic happens at this club, for example the present board resign and a fresh administration or board comes in, then all we have to do is make a few telephone calls and we will turn a side out against Bramley," he said.

"I have been in this game for a lot of years. This is the worst situation I have been in. I have never been in a situation where we have a set of people who are all kicking the ball a different way."

Meanwhile, Booth added that the players - who were offered 25 per cent of their overdue wages - had been prepared to reach a compromise over pay.

"We were willing to turn out for the remainder of the season if they paid us this month's wages. But they said we would have to play for nothing," he said.

"If we didn't get promoted it was a gamble, we would not get paid and you just can't play like that. We have played games for them and we are owed money.

"There have been delays before, if they had come down and said there are a couple of days delay everything would be all right. They have tried to blame everything on us."

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