LONG-TIME York Wasps fan Ann Wright said today she was not surprised that the club have gone to the wall.

She also feared that there was little chance of a saviour coming in to rescue the century-old club from extinction.

"It's not out of the blue," she told the Evening Press.

"There's been things happening here and there and all along I did not think the club would make it until the end of the season.

"In fact, this was the first season in years that I didn't buy a season ticket simply because I didn't think the club would last out the season.

"It's been such bad management for so long that no local sponsors would put money behind the directors and it's got rid of a lot of fringe supporters.

"I don't see the club being saved from here.

"All the local people knew what was happening and they weren't going to put money behind the current board and I can't see anybody else stepping in to it now.

"I would like to think there would be a 'save Wasps' campaign but I really can't see it.

"Unless someone's been hiding I can't see anybody coming out now with a rescue bid.

"It's a huge shame and it's very galling, especially after seeing York City FC get such massive backing after it looked like they might be going to the wall.

"Everybody rallied round and said how we must keep a football club in the city, but everyone has forgotten about us."

Wright blames the club's demise on the directors. "The board were stringing us along to put it politely," she said.

"They shouldn't blame low crowds because if we had a side worth watching people would have turned out.

"Last year since they came back I've not believed anything they've told us.

"They haven't brought any money in that they promised, and they said the sponsorship deal was one of the biggest in the NFP but it obviously isn't.

"These French internationals that they promised have never arrived, yet if they had the money for them why not buy other decent players instead?

"We also haven't heard from this new club president, whoever he is (former drugs tsar Keith Hellawell was named as the new club president in October last year).

"I'm pretty disgusted with the board, as I have been for ages. I don't see that any of them have put anything into the club. There have been plenty of promises but nothing has materialised."

She added: "All we can do is wish all the best to the current players and to those players who served the club over the years.

"I would imagine that some of the older players, like Pally (Alan Pallister) and Presh (Andy Precious), might retire now.

"And it's such a shame that it should end for them like this, on such a low point. It doesn't do them justice."

Updated: 11:22 Wednesday, March 20, 2002