WARRINGTON Wolves' new major shareholder believes investment in players is a priority to keep the Super League club moving forward.

Director Simon Moran, who has this week increased his stake in the club and stadium to 73 per cent (see front page), has given Wolves head coach Paul Cullen money to spend on strengthening the squad for next season.

But the lifelong Wolves fan highlighted that the continued help of supporters is vitally important too.

Moran said: "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.

"I'm not talking about paying out huge amounts of money to everyone but we have to be realistic, we have to invest to keep going forward.

"We do need to be run on a stringent business practice and if it is, it is all about the fans watching in their numbers and buying season tickets next year.

"We will probably have to put the ticket prices up next year, not massively, but the only reason we're doing that is to get more money to help the club go forward and buy players.

"I can guarantee their money isn't going to go in my pocket as I haven't got any agenda to make money out of this.

"I think over the last two years, with the arrival of the new stadium and now on the playing side, the club is moving forwards but we've got to invest to keep it going forwards on and off the pitch.

"The way we see it, we want to be up there in the top six every year and hopefully the top four. We can't win the league every year but we can compete for it.

"The fans are doing great this year with attendances going up from around 7,500 to 10,000 and it really is the continued support of the fans that will generate the revenue for us to go forward."

Moran has dipped into his own pocket over the past few years to help out the club.

He said: "I have helped over the last few years to some extent and I wouldn't rule it out again. I can't do that year in, year out.

"We need the basis of a good business, which the supporters can drive.

"With the support, if it keeps growing or simply maintains, we can challenge the top teams."