YORK Wasps Rugby League Club are working hard to attract new sponsors for next season's Northern Ford Premiership campaign.

The club, who faced a winding up order called for by the Inland Revenue last season, are determined to ensure the immediate future of the club but know that they need backers if they are to see their dream fulfilled.

While the financial problems of last season were addressed, club chief executive Ann Garvey said the board were not satisfied with merely stop-gap measures - and sponsorship is a major factor. Wasps went through last season without a shirt sponsorship deal in place.

"Sponsorship is one of our main priorities," said Garvey.

"We are already talking to a couple of local companies, but we are eager to talk anyone who would wish to help the club.

"Our target is not just to address next season, but to find the kind of support that would ensure that the club can plan for at least the next three seasons.

"Only by achieving that aim can we really concentrate on putting together a team that can ensure that we have a York side that is worthy of the name and can compete at the top of the league."

However, the club are keen to appoint a coach and many of their plans hinge on that.

The board have discussed the applicants, including Garry Atkins, who took over as caretaker last season on Dean Robinson's departure, and expect to name the new man in the hotseat next week.

"Obviously a coach is the main priority because so much rides on that," said Garvey.

"Every coach has his own ideas and knows which players he wants, and we cannot even really begin to look at pushing next term's season tickets until we can tell the fans just who is going to be taking the reins.

"But we determined that we will not be in the same position as last season when we only just had an idea of the squad a month before the season starts.

"This time we want the squad back together in training within a month so they will be fully prepared when it comes to the new campaign."

Wasps have a few places left on their buses that will be running to the Northern Premiership final at Gigg Lane, Bury, on Saturday, July 29.

In conjunction with sponsors Ford each Northern Ford Premiership club will be running transport to the final at a cut price cost of just £5.

The NFP have already sold more than 2,500 tickets for the match with the semi-finals yet to be played, and Wasps have filled one of the two coaches that will be running from the Huntington Stadium.

Tickets can be booked by ringing the Wasps on 634636.