Promoted York Rugby League Club are assured of a £300,000 News Corporation hand out to fund their First Division campaign.

The First and Second Division Association moved to allay the Wasps' fears that a re-worked competition could affect their payout for the 1999 season.

Chairman Bob McDermott told the Evening Press that the club would receive the same cash as all other First Division sides, which will be "approximately" £300,000.

Wasps chief executive Phil Elliott claimed that the board were in a position to lift the club's legacy of debt.

"It is what we have been working for all season because we have known from the start what the payments would be and we have no secured those payments," said Elliott. "It will allow us to rid ourselves of the legacy of debt from the last ten years and put the club on a sound footing."

Meanwhile, McDermott said: "We have not established the amount but we are saying a figure of approximately £300,000, that is what they will get. York have taken a chance of getting into that First Division so they will receive the money and we will welcome them with open arms.

"It is very important to have a strong York team. We have got Hull KR out on a limb and York in between. It is important, if we are going to spread this game, because York are a good, strong traditional side."

McDermott said the Wasps were now in a position to plan for the future. "The additional finances will help the club sort their problems out. We are pleased because they have worked hard and struggled and they have come out the other end," he said. "Best wishes to York and the directors."

The FASDA chairman added that a working party was looking at possible formats for the game outside Super League next season.

The next meeting of FASDA clubs, scheduled for the end of this month, is expected to agree to maintain the two division structure, unless mergers and an extra Super League place reduce the number of clubs.

"We have looked at a format for Second Division clubs that will ensure them of a number of lucrative games. If a couple of teams dropped out and one went to Super League we will bring it back to one division," he added.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.