SIGNS are everywhere that the dark clouds that hung over Wasps a few years ago are finally dissipating.

It wasn’t so long ago the club were just one bad result from extinction.

Relegation in 2012 would almost certainly have seen a curtain close around England’s second most successful club in the professional era.

However, a consortium led by Ken Moss gave Wasps the defibrillator treatment, and chairman Mark Rigby – perhaps the singlemost important person in saving Wasps – used the time to find a long-term solution in Derek Richardson.

Now the club is on sound footing and the fact that they were able to charter a flight to France for last weekend’s match with Bayonne is another vivid indication.

Director of rugby Dai Young said: “It’s not something we’re going to do on a regular basis because nine times out of ten places will be accessible.

“But at this time of year you can’t fly into Biarittz. The nearest airport is two and a half hours away and you’ve got another two hours at the airport this side.

“You’re talking a six or seven-hour trip but if you charter a flight our total travelling is probably only about two and a half hours.

“It makes so much difference. The boys are so much fresher at the other side.

“We’re not stupid about it, we’re not going to chuck money at it, but when it’s needed we’ve got the clout to do it. It shows the club is going in the right direction.”