YORK Wasps supporter and former Health Secretary Frank Dobson MP has told of his sadness at the collapse of the Northern Ford Premiership club.

Dobson, now the Labour MP for Holborn and St Pancras in central London, contacted the Evening Press today to pass on his support to the fans who were planning to set up a supporters' trust, just as the news filtered through that the club had closed down.

"I come from York originally - I'm a Dunnington lad - and I was interested in seeing if there was anything I could do to help. I suppose now it's a case of if there's anything I can do to help resurrect the club.

"I've been a few times to watch them at Huntington Stadium but it was as a kid when I used to watch them a lot, at Clarence Street. Obviously now it's been a case of following them from a distance."

Dobson, who was also a London Mayoral candidate, said he was a keen rugby league follower.

"When I was Health Secretary I presented the last Challenge Cup at Wembley when Leeds played London.

"But this is a sad day for rugby league. I think, as with football, we're in great danger of it ending up with just a limited number of well-known, television-appearing clubs and nothing else."

Updated: 11:39 Wednesday, March 27, 2002