YORK Wasps supporters have been urged to act quickly and rally around to save their club, writes Tony Curtis.

The message comes from Bramley Rugby League Community Club, who were unceremoniously pulled out of the Northern Ford Premiership back in 1999 by their then chairman Jeff Wine.

The club's loyal band of supporters reacted quickly and reformed - with the help of local businesses - as a community-run club.

And with this bitter experience now behind them - the Black and Ambers are hopeful of a reappearance in the restructured league system next year - Bramley's chairman Lee Spraklan believes the Wasps fans should follow their example.

"I think York would be the ideal place to set up a co-operative like ourselves," Spracklan told the Evening Press.

"One of the things they will need to do is to get the supporters together quick.

"They have to get together and look at their options."

Spraklan, who works in York, admits there is a lot of parallels between the two clubs - they had their grounds sold and lost support by moving, while they play in the same black and gold colours.

And now the Bramley chief is hoping the York can pull through like them.

"There position is very similar to that of Bramley, so it is possible to pull through," he added. "I am willing to speak to them to have a chat about how we set things up here."

Updated: 10:38 Saturday, March 23, 2002