YORK Wasps Rugby League Club's bid to return to Northern Ford Premier action in June has been boosted by the announcement that Steve Ferres will take over as chief executive.

The former York, Dewsbury, Bradford and Carlisle stand-off, who had been in talks with the club's former board about stepping in before they folded the Wasps, finally accepted the role after more than two weeks of discussions with the working party behind the Supporters' Trust.

And with just two days before the club's business plan to be reinstated goes before the Rugby Football League council, the Wasps hope the appointment of Ferres will show they are moving in the right direction.

Ferres has an impressive collection of contacts in the game having been assistant manager to Gary Hetherington at Sheffield, coach at Hunslet and Huddersfield - taking the West Yorkshire side into Super League - and chief executive at Wakefield and these could be vital for Wasps survival.

But first Wasps must win over the RL council and be reinstated to the league.

"Steve will come in, in two weeks should we be readmitted," said fans' leader Gary Hall. "We are cock-a-hoop. This shows we are going in the right direction and hopefully the RFL will now look at our business plan in a more favourable light.

"Steve has got the contacts in rugby league as well as a lot of respect within the game."

Ferres, who entered Wasps' folklore after kicking a last-minute drop goal to beat Wigan in 1975, knows he has a tough job on his hands but he is hugely enthusiastic about it.

"I was the guy who was interested in taking over the club when the old board decided to fold the club," the 48-year-old told the Evening Press. "Unfortunately the time and situation wasn't right.

"The club should be run as a business and if it can run self-sufficiently then it shouldn't be run at all.

"I've seen so may clubs threaten to go under only for someone to come in, throw cash at the problem, find out it doesn't work and then leave the club in the same state it was in before six, nine, 12 months later.

"If you look at the crowds in the NFP, not many clubs can run solely on these. You've got to generate other forms of income, with whatever crowds you get a bonus.

"Now the Supporters' Trust is up and running, we've got to build on that. We need the community to match the enthusiasm of the players on the field and to help fund the running of the club."

With a number of players heading off to pastures new following the closure of the 'old club', Ferres is in no doubt that the club are in for a rough ride on the pitch, especially with his former club Huddersfield pencilled in for their first game on June 2.

"Things are not going to happen overnight," he added. "To be quiet honest it will be difficult, but all we can do is put out the strongest available team to us on the day.

"I'm under no illusions, but if we can see out this season and strengthen in the summer, then we can build for the future.

"All I can ask for is 100 per cent commitment and enthusiasm from players and fans alike."

Updated: 11:22 Monday, April 29, 2002