Leeds Rhinos chief executive Gary Hetherington introduces new sporting director Ian Blease during a press conference at AMT Headingley.
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00:00 First of all, Chief Executive Gary Hellington will open the seatings. We'll have top tables, so any questions of the top table please and then we will have opportunity for one to one interviews afterwards. Gary.
00:11 Thank you Phil and thank you for everybody coming as Phil says at pretty short notice this morning for what is a very significant announcement by the club.
00:21 It's a reflection on the Leeds Rhinos Board of Directors intent and their investments in rugby league at all levels in actual fact as we strive to regain our status as a top super league club and build on our grading points as well.
00:38 The new sporting directors in effect are our six executive or six on the board of directors of Leeds Rhinos. Nigel Chambers is our finance director, Rob Oakes is our commercial director, Sue Ward manages facilities and ASG, Jamie Jones-McAllen is the cultural and diversity and the chief executive and all those people all manage a significant part of our organisation and do it extremely well.
01:07 Despite the pretty tough economic climate that us and indeed all super league clubs are facing, this appointment will certainly add support and expertise to all our rugby league teams and especially our men's first team, to the players themselves, to the head coach and to our back room staff.
01:28 One of the things that we at Leeds Rhinos really do value is our partnership with our charitable trust, the Leeds Rhinos Foundation. Between us we oversee a whole range of sporting entities, netball being the latest one, both at community level, at player pathway level and at super league level.
01:47 Halls Schools Rugby League in Leeds is supported by the foundation and their development officers. The 321 community clubs in Leeds as well, they are now booking the trend in terms of participation numbers. University and colleges rugby league in the city, disability rugby league with the learning disability team and the physical disability team, wheelchair, women's rugby league as well, both at academy level and at super league level.
02:15 The Rhinos reserves academy and scholarship and of course the men's flagship first team.
02:21 Kevin Sinfield was director of rugby for over 3 years and when Kevin left we didn't replace him. So this new appointment will take on all those responsibilities and some more. This role will focus on the growth of our organisation and improving standards at every level, including player and staff retention and recruitment.
02:45 The role required someone who has got expertise in all sections of our industry, someone with a successful track record, someone with outstanding personal skills, someone who can make decisions and someone who has got some financial acumen as well to be able to manage a rugby league budget.
03:11 We had quite a number of high quality applicants and I'm delighted that the chosen one is Ian Blees. I would like to thank the Salford club and their chairman in particular Paul King on being very approachable and understanding and enabling this appointment to go ahead.
03:33 I for many years enjoyed watching the playing skills of Ian Blees and more recently his role in management. I've admired what he's been able to do at Salford and achieved a lot of successes there. So I'm delighted to now formally welcome Ian Blees to Leeds Rhinos.
03:53 news.