An Indian restaurateur has given York Wasps 21 days to repay him a £15,000 loan or be served with a winding up order.

Khaliqu Zaman, who recently opened the Jaipur Spice restaurant on the site of York's former Clarence Street ground, is owed the cash as a result of a loan deal made with the club a year ago.

He claims he loaned them £10,000 last September with an agreement that it would be re-paid, plus an extra £5,000, by March 31 this year.

But he has yet to receive a penny and is not prepared to wait any longer. Mr Zaman said: "My accountant served a statutory demand last week. If it's not paid in 21 days he will serve a winding up order.

"It was due on March 31 and since then we have tried to get something out of them but we've had no written confirmation or anything from them saying when they would pay me."

The club have since offered to pay him the money in full in October but that has been rejected by Mr Zaman. "It is too late. I need this money now," he said.

As well as the new Jaipur Spice, Mr Zaman also owns the Indian Ocean in Acomb, India Garden in Pickering, the King's Ransom in York City Centre, and will soon be opening another Jaipur Spice in Easingwold.

It is for his latest ventures which he says he needs the money owed to him by the Wasps.

Club director and chief executive Ann Garvey said they had not yet received a winding up order but admitted they did owe him the money. She said: "We offered to pay him the full amount on October 15 but he refused to accept it. He says he wants it now. He didn't actually threaten a winding up order and it will be discussed at tonight's board meeting when we will pay him.

"He came to a board meeting a few weeks ago and was prepared to wait until October. I don't know why he has changed his mind."

Garvey said she could not confirm the details of the agreement made with him as she was not on the board at the time.

Chairman Trevor Cox declined to comment further and would only say: "There is no winding-up order and there won't be a winding up order."

Meanwhile, a partial return to winter rugby for Northern Ford Premiership clubs was expected to get the go-ahead at today's Rugby League council meeting in Salford.

All 32 member clubs of the League will vote on the proposal and though Super League clubs have some concerns it is expected to be passed.

New financial proposals for the next three years will also be finalised, after which Garvey said the Wasps would be able to set a wage bill for next season and begin contract negotiations with the present squad.

Duo face brawl hearing

Two York Wasps Academy players were today due to appear before the Rugby Football League disciplinary committee for their part in the Hemel brawl.

Ken Forbes and Alan Willitts have both been cited though there is some confusion as to their involvement in the brawl which has already seen 10 people, including three non-playing personnel, suspended.

Forbes was originally cited for punching and kicking during the match at Huntington Stadium in July but his hearing was postponed because he was on holiday. Willitts has since been called to appeal before the committee as there could be a case of mistaken identity because the two players swapped shirts before the brawl took place.

Coach Brian Kellett, who was today travelling to Leeds with the pair, said he was not sure what stance the committee would reach but said it was possible only one player would be punished.

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