WARRINGTON Wolves have set their sights on becoming one of the biggest names in rugby league after star coach Paul Cullen signed a new contract and a lifelong fan took boardroom control.

The Warrington Guardian can exclusively reveal that this week has seen major changes at The Halliwell Jones Stadium, with Mr Cullen signing a three-year extension to his current deal and music entrepreneur Simon Moran securing a 73 per cent stake in Warrington's Super League club and new stadium.

Seven other directors will stay on the board, but with a significantly reduced share.

The 38-year-old former Woolston High School pupil says that it was his moral duty to ensure the club is kept for the fans.

He added: "Now that we've got the stadium, I didn't want interests in it to be sold to people who didn't have Warrington Rugby League and the team doing well as their prime motivation.

"I thought that if I didn't do it and suddenly it was sold to someone who wanted to take money out or to someone who was not bothered about the playing side then I would have felt I hadn't done my duty as a Warrington fan.

"I haven't got any agenda to make any money out of this."

And Mr Cullen, fresh from agreeing his extension, said: "The fact that I've signed a three-year extension shows a big commitment on my part and a big commitment on the part of the club.

"I'm delighted to have signed and I am also delighted that Simon has had the desire to do what he has done.

"There has been a realignment on the share issue and the expertise that we have had from leaving Wilderspool and going into the new stadium is still with us. We have lost none of that talent and that is great news for the club."

And Mr Moran, who co-manages bands like Beautiful South and The Coral, said he has given the coach money to spend on boosting the squad for next season.

He added: "We've got to increase the team investment next year and the year after but in a measured fashion.

"It's got to be built on solid platforms but with the need to strengthen for next year Paul has been given the tools to do that by a reasonable amount that I think he's okay with. There will be some more the year after."

And chief executive Andy Gatcliffe says that now is the time to turn the club into one of the best four sides in the country, just two years after the Wolves narrowly avoided relegation.

He added: "It is payback time for the borough of Warrington and we want to do better than we have been doing both for this season and beyond.

Fellow board member and chief executive of the Northwest Development Agency Steven Broomhead added: "Simon has been the hidden hero of the club through the difficult times and it is very positive that a man with such business stature is now owning his home town club."

l Full interview with Paul Cullen and Simon Moran in Guardian Sport, back page