NORTHERN Ford Premiership clubs including York Wasps face a vital meeting on Friday to decide the format for the forthcoming season.

And the Wasps will be one of the clubs voting for new plans to keep a single-section NFP rather than split it into two divisions before the new term, which is due to start on December 2.

The clubs had previously voted 13-6 in favour of having two divisions straight away but under that system, based on final standings last season, the Wasps, who finished bottom of the NFP, would be placed in the new division two with immediate effect.

However, the clubs are set to discuss the issue once more, with a new proposal now on the table to play a full season with one division of all 19 clubs. Each team will play each other home and away, with one team having a bye each week and with the season extending to late September next year.

The final positions in that will determine who goes into what division in 2003, by which time their calendar should have fallen back into alignment with the Super League summer season.

Wasps chief executive Ann Garvey said her club were seeking a reversal of the original ballot, with the results of Friday's vote set to be taken into the Rugby Football League Council meeting on October 3.

"Either myself or (chairman) John Stabler will be going on Friday and we will be voting for the new proposals," Garvey told the Evening Press.

"It would mean a longer season but there wouldn't be a great deal of difference from last season, and clubs like York, who didn't have a successful season last time, would stand a better chance of getting up into division one.

"All the clubs would have the same opportunity to do well this season and it will be up to us to do well enough to get into the top division.

"We're trying to turn the club around and if we went into the bottom division now it wouldn't help us.

"We are all aware of what the structure will be in 2003 and even though it would be a long, hard season we think this is the best way of getting there."

Super League clubs are also to meet on Friday to think again over proposals to cut the number of teams in the top flight to ten by 2003.

A recommendation to shed two teams at the end of next season, which was the central plank of a proposed overhaul of the game, was initially welcomed by club representatives.

But several clubs are now having second thoughts and they will discuss the plan at a meeting in Halifax before deciding on their next move.

The proposal, along with more than a hundred other recommendations contained in the strategic review, is due to be put to the vote at the full RFL Council meeting on October 3.

Wasps have agreed to play Featherstone Rovers in a pre-season friendly, although the date of the match will depend on the new league format.

Wasps have extended the deadline for fans to buy the few remaining club tickets to go to the Super League Grand Final at Old Trafford, Manchester, on October 13. Contact 01904 634636.

Updated: 11:51 Tuesday, September 25, 2001