Wanderers MD buys Wasps

12:40pm Wednesday 3rd December 2008

Comments (13)   Have your say »

WANDERERS managing director Steve Hayes has bought out the club's groundshare tenants London Wasps.

He has taken a 97 per cent stake in the Guinness Premiership champions after buying out the shares of Chris Wright and John O'Connell.

Hayes, who also owns a 25 per cent stake in Wanderers, says having a foot in both camps will strengthen both clubs' positions.

But he has ruled out merging them into one super sports club run by one board, although he did say that there could be a joint stadium board if the clubs get their dream of a shared 17-20,000 capacity stadium at Booker Airfield.

Hayes, who previously had an 11 per cent stake in Wasps, says he had the unanimous backing from the Wanderers board over his decision to run both clubs.

Hayes has promised Blues fans that having dual control won't dilute his interest in the football club.

He plans to delegate a lot of the work at Wasps and to that end he has assembled a new-look board at the rugby club which includes former club captains Lawrence Dallaglio and Mark Rigby, long-term business advisor Mike Brooks alongside current board members John O'Connell, Ivor Montlake and Tony Copsey.

Speaking at a press Conference this morning Hayes said: "London Wasps is undeniably one of the most successful clubs in Europe on the pitch and, as we look to the future, I have a very clear vision which will incorporate and align all facets of the club to this level of success.

"We are determined to stay at the forefront of European rugby."