Koukash wants Cumbrian Super League club
FORMER Salford owner Marwan Koukash has revealed his plans to create a Cumbrian club that could compete in Super League.
The region has not been represented in the top flight since Workington were relegated at the end of the inaugural Super League season in 1996, but Koukash told BBC Radio Manchester he has a vision to launch a team to represent the entire area.
He said: “It’s one of those regions in the UK where rugby league probably has more followers than football and if you look at Super League, there must be 10-15 Cumbrian players playing there.
“In actual fact, you could probably field a Super League team made up entirely of Cumbrian Super League players, so obviously the potential is there. And, it is worth investing.”
Talks in the past have centred on merging Barrow Raiders, Workington Town and Whitehaven, but Koukash was clear that is not part of his plans.
He added: “I’m not suggesting we bring teams together. I’m suggesting we create a club there and call it Cumbrian Lakers or whatever - and it’s for the whole of Cumbria. You see Cumbrians from all over Cumbria travelling to Wigan or St Helens to watch Super League games, so why wouldn’t they follow their own club - a club playing for all of Cumbria.
“I’ve been discussing it with the right people over there for the last two to three months. I think with a bit of luck, there will be some kind of announcement about growing rugby league in Cumbria pretty soon.”