YORK Rugby League Club are facing a 'zero tolerance' policy from the City of York Council over repayment of their Huntington Stadium rent arrears.

The council are poised to set a quarterly repayment figure for the club's debt and "recovery action" is threatened if the club fail to meet the agreement.

But Wasps chairman Trevor Cox, who claimed the debt was in the region of £25,000, was today optimistic of a positive outcome and stated the club's intention to adhere to any agreement.

Cox declared the debt could be reduced to a "few thousand pounds" if the council deduct a sum to compensate for the period from April 1996 to August 1997, when the club hired training facilities away from Huntington Stadium.

The council, who describe the rent situation inherited from Ryedale District Council as "chaotic", are expected to agree a restructuring of the club's repayments at tomorrow's meeting of the leisure services committee.

Charlie Croft, assistant director (policy and resources), in his report to councillors, said: "Under the terms of the lease the club was required to pay rent quarterly in advance. However, the situation inherited from Ryedale District Council was chaotic.

"In 1992 Ryedale effectively wrote off previous debts accumulated by the club in respect of their failure to pay rent and gave the club a further two year rent free period.

"In 1994 when rent again became due no rent was in fact forthcoming and Ryedale simply allowed the debt to accumulate. This debt then passed from Ryedale District Council to City of York together with a position where there was no history of rent being collected in line with the terms of the lease."

There are various complex agreements covering the club's use of the stadium but the deal with original landlords Ryedale District Council provided a 66 year lease, of which 57 years remain.

In the club's contract with Ryedale, the authority agreed to pay the Wasps £100 a week towards training costs when the pitch was unavailable.

However, the City of York Council assumed responsibility for the stadium in April 1996 after Local Government Reorganisation and have held a series of meetings with the club in an effort to resolve the situation.

The council claim the Wasps' changes at board level initially slowed down progress but confirmed that, while negotiations were ongoing, "rigorous enforcement action on the debt was held off".

However, the authority now appears to be taking a harder line with the club, with Croft stating: "It is now essential that steps are put in hand for the debt to the City council to be cleared.

"The club have indicated their desire to do this but have also made it clear that they will need the ability to spread payments over a period of time.

"The club would, however, be required to keep up these payments and should they fail to do so debt recovery action would be taken."

But Wasps chief Cox told the Evening Press the two parties were "not too far apart".

"I am very optimistic it will be resolved satisfactorily. I have not heard anything from the local authority since I met Mr Croft. I cannot say what he said, but from what he said I am optimistic about the outcome," he said.

"If it is along the lines of what was suggested I am optimistic that the company can deal with it. The worst case scenario is that we would owe them a few thousand pounds. If we reach an agreement we intend to adhere to it.

"The agreement provided that they will provide the club with training facilities, but they have not done that."

* The management of the Huntington Stadium complex is now in the hands of Vardon Leisure, previously Civic Leisure, who have reached a new rental agreement with the Wasps.

The club's deal allows for use of the pitch for matches and training, access to Courtney's gym and use of other stadium facilities, including the boardroom and offices.

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