TOO often in recent years, we have chronicled York Wasps' problems. Financial crises off the pitch and record defeats have left fans disillusioned and the club on the brink of closure.

So we take great delight in reporting the new mood of optimism at Huntington Stadium. The installation of New York Economic Development Council as the team's new shirt sponsor is a sensational coup that has galvanised everyone at Wasps.

It is also a triumph of imagination by the club's directors. Their own efforts to attract local sponsors having proved fruitless, they took the unprecedented step of hiring specialist organisation World Rugby League to widen the search. The company did not disappoint. It has also brought in other international business names such as Gillette and Samsung as associate sponsors.

But it is the New York connection that truly astounds. That the NYEDC remained loyal to the deal in the light of last week's dreadful events is testament to its commitment. No one would have criticised the US bosses for pulling out: the Wasps deal is insignificant in the aftermath of the attacks on that great city.

It is not only the club that benefits from the NYEDC's decision to go ahead. Already York business leaders are voicing confidence that the deal will boost trade and investment from the United States.

For York Wasps, it means the start of a new, more positive era. The directors grasped the nettle and cleared the club's debts, at the expense of a terrible run of results.

Today Wasps has a trading profit, a new coach and players waiting to sign, and there is even talk of buying and redeveloping Huntington Stadium.

The plan is to win promotion to the Super League within three years.

Suddenly, that ambition seems attainable.

What the players need now is for fans to turn out in force and cheer them to new heights.

Updated: 10:24 Wednesday, September 19, 2001