THE prospective chairman of York RL has warned that the new club is unlikely to get off the ground unless the cash target of £250,000 is reached.

Roger Dixon is therefore urging fans to think past the immediate £75,000 survival figure and instead aim for the higher mark, by getting 1,000 people to buy membership of the club.

Long-time fan Dixon - whose impassioned plea at the initial York Wasps crisis meeting elevated him to the forefront of the campaign to resurrect professional rugby league in York - is to be made club chairman once the new company is officially set up.

But he has warned that if the club does not have £250,000 in the coffers before the start of next season then he and chief executive Steve Ferres could well stand down.

"I have no interest in seeing this club struggle at the bottom of the league," he said. "I'm not looking for £75,000 by the end of August, as that's the minimum. I'm looking for £250,000 before the new season in March."

The bid for the new club to join the Rugby Football League next season has been successful on the condition it can generate start-up capital of £75,000 before August 31. However, Ferres has already stressed that £250,000, to be raised before next season, is what is really needed to make it worthwhile.

It is planned such capital would be raised - starting now - through sales of £250 club memberships, a price which include season tickets and various financial benefits and city-wide discounts, details of which are yet to be revealed.

Dixon explained: "Unless the club has £250,000 before next season, we're wasting our time and the dream of ever reaching Super League will never be fulfilled. We will only have our memories of what happened before.

"I want to be proud of this club, but I've learnt over the eight to 12 weeks I've been involved - involuntarily involved - that we have to have money.

"I don't want to have just £75,000 because we would have another miserable failure. We've either got to go for it properly or let the memory of York Wasps linger where it is."

He added: "What we now need, and very quickly, is for at least 1,000 supporters to become members and commit themselves to a yearly financial contribution of £250, or £5 per week, which equates to about two pints of beer a week.

"My view is if there are not that number of people sufficiently interested in professional RL within the greater York area then it could be said York does not deserve a rugby league club at all.

"Now is the time for all those with rugby league at heart to demonstrate their commitment to resourcing a team worthy of representing the city next season.

"If, for whatever reason, the response is inadequate then the dream will remain just that."

All those wishing to pledge money or buy a club membership should send cheques (payable to York RLFC Supporters Club) to Bank House, 1 The Square, Stamford Bridge, York, YO41 1AG, before August 21.

Updated: 11:50 Friday, August 02, 2002