Wasps on the brink

Several players are threatening to quit the club ahead of Sunday's crucial Second Division trip to Bramley following a pay dispute.

The Evening Press understands the board have offered to pay 25 per cent of this month's wages, with the intention of settling the remainder at the end of the season.

Sources close to the club claimed the Wasps' first team regulars were due an average of £1,500 and some individual players more than £2,000.

The pay offer was made at a stormy meeting between club officials and squad representatives last week and the players were told to report back for training tonight.

Chief executive Phil Elliott declined to discuss the details of the offer but revealed that the players must "make their decision" by tonight.

"Our only issue is to see the rugby league club goes forward and wins promotion," said Elliott.

"I don't know where we are at. There could be 25 players in the squad or we could have five. We are all here to make it work and if people and players are not with us, they better get off the boat.

"We have supported the coach with money, we have supported the players, they have been paid every single wage day. When the going gets tough it seems players want to get going."

Chairman Trevor Cox was unavailable for comment but Elliott claimed he was making "decisions on behalf of the board".

A mass boycott by players could leave the Wasps struggling to field a team against Bramley at Headingley on Sunday.

With the club operating under a transfer embargo - imposed by the Rugby Football League after York failed to pay Mick Ramsden's transfer fee to Wakefield Trinity - there appears to be little chance of drafting in replacements.

Despite reports the embargo had been lifted, the RFL today confirmed it was still in operation.

Ramsden, who is unable to play until the fee is paid, declared that it would be "disastrous" for the city if the club folded.

However, he claimed several players were prepared to leave the club if the dispute is not resolved.

The forward said: "We are all just hoping things are sorted because we have got a big game this weekend and they need to field a team.

"It seems to me there are a lot of players who are not prepared to carry on unless wages are brought up to date. We have not trained for a number of days and we are all expected to turn up tonight and hopefully be told what is happening.

"I just can't see there not being a rugby club in York, especially with the position we are in this year. We are in a position now where it is crucial things are sorted out behind the scenes."

The Friends of York RL, set up almost two years ago to assist in raising funds for the club, have donated £1,000 to the cause following a request from director Ken Hunter.

Chairman Mick Bradley revealed that the Friends were approached by the board and members agreed to give the club "what we could".

"Everybody seemed to agree that we should let them have some money to help them out," said Bradley.

Meanwhile, Castleford Tigers chief executive Richard Wright has denied that the Super League club have recalled Gareth Dobson and Spencer Hargrave from their loan stays at York.

Wright said the pair were training with Cas due to a break in York's season but they remained on loan to the club.

However, he confirmed that Jamie Benn was recalled and is now on loan at Keighley Cougars, winning a place in the First and Second Division team of the week for his debut display against Whitehaven.

lThe York Academy side maintained their impressive away form with an 18-14 victory over Batley Bulldogs at Mount Pleasant.

Tries from Dan Briggs, Ryan Calam and Craig Caygill, plus two Carl Potter conversions and one for Carl Paterson, gave the visitors an 18-0 half-time lead.

The hosts fought back playing down the slope after the interval but the Wasps held on for their third away victory of the season.

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