A place in the first division remains the principle prize of a sink or swim 1998 season for York Rugby League Club.

That was the assertion of Wasps chief executive Phil Elliott as he acknowledged the views of fans drawn by an Evening Press appeal on the plight of the club.

The majority of supporters urged the club to make a return to the city centre to awaken substantial sleeping support, which remains despite last season's average gates of just 600.

Elliott declared the input of the fans was welcomed by the club but revealed the board were reluctant to take their eyes off the main prize - promotion.

A raft of opportunities, including the chance to seek a city centre home, would be presented to the club if they achieve elevation to the first division, said the chief executive.

"If we do not get out of this second division there will not be a club anyway," said Elliott.

"If we do get out of the division we will get more money, between £320,000 and £400,000, and next year we will probably have the opportunity to plan for the future. A whole raft of opportunity is open to the club in the first division.

"We welcome everyone's input. We will listen, we are there to respond to people's views and we only want a winning side. I believe this side is the best for about ten years and I have seen some tremendous football played by them.

"It would be foolhardy to take our eye off the ball in terms of what our priorities are. We will be judged by April 10 and I hope we get a good crowd. It is an important season."

However, Elliott admitted the club needed it's own base and clubhouse if "it is to be successful in the future".

The chief executive explained that a permanent return to the city was unlikely at this stage, but did not rule out the possibility of 'testing the water' with matches at Bootham Crescent.

Said Elliott: "There is the remainder of a 66-year lease with the council which has to be dealt with on a year by year basis with Civic Leisure.

"The facilities are there and that is where we are. In the past we have made representations for all the wrong reasons to York City. That is not particularly on the cards unless we were to go again to Douglas Craig and his board.

"Clearly I would like to get one or two games at Bootham Crescent. I would like to test it, but I am not too sure how the board of York City would react."

In response to fans who yearned for a return to winter rugby league and more meaningful league competition, Elliott said: "We are caught up in a commercial whirlwind and we are dictated to.

"Most clubs are governed by other people, we really do have very little say in how matters are run. If you are bottom of the pile you get told what to do. The answer to all the questions is getting out of this division."

The club made no apology over their threat that the club will fold if promotion to the first division fails to materialise this season.

"The only reason we have been fighting is so we can field a great side, that is all our focus has been on. That is why we said 'where are you all?'.

"No one wants to purvey doom and gloom all the time but there is a realism and that is saying where we are. I will not be accused half way through the season of not saying what the situation is."

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