STEVE Ferres has admitted he turned down a high-ranked job at a Super League club in order to continue with York RL's bid to return to action.

The job offer arose last week but Ferres - regarded as one of the most astute figures in the game - instead opted to put his full weight behind the bid to resurrect professional rugby to York.

"We've put a lot of time and effort in to get us where we are today (with York) and I don't want to walk away," he said. "I've started something and I want to finish it."

But he added: "I can't do it on my own - we've got to do it together. Everybody has a key role to play."

The former Wakefield Trinity chief executive was linked to a return to Belle Vue a fortnight ago, with one radio report incorrectly naming him as the new coach of the Wildcats in place of the sacked Peter Roe.

He strenuously denied those rumours then and would not say which club was involved in this latest job offer, nor indeed what the actual job was.

"I don't want to say anything about that because I am committed to York and to delivering what the York public want: a successful team," he added.

His decision to stick with York is a massive fillip, and the fact he reckons the club can be successful is also a big boost as the fans face a fight to raise the cash needed to make the club a goer.

The former coach at Huddersfield and Hunslet - where he took the club from the bottom of the Northern Ford Premiership to the top - is to be named chief executive of the new York club if, as expected, its application for league membership was rubber-stamped by the Rugby Football League Council today.

As reported by the Evening Press, the success of that application would still be dependent on fans raising £75,000 by August 31 to prove to the RFL they have enough start-up capital, while Ferres has stressed a total of £250,000 is needed by the start of the season for it to be worthwhile.

It is planned to raise that cash through the sale of £250 annual club memberships, which include season tickets, match-day benefits and other financial advantages. Ferres said selling the necessary 1,000 memberships was achievable.

"At this moment, York City FC average about 3,500 of which they've got 1,500 season tickets sold," he explained.

"I think York RL with a winning side in the NFP could get between 2,000 and 3,000. York is a rugby league city so I think 1,000 is achievable.

"That would give us a proper structure to get out into the community. It would see coaches working with kids, getting into schools, which in turn gets parents involved. We would also be able to work with amateur clubs, and develop and foster a togetherness within a big city like York which would make this community-based club a success."

Updated: 11:59 Wednesday, July 31, 2002