WHEN Warrington Wolves fans walk through the turnstiles at The Halliwell Jones Stadium next year, they could find themselves next to a familiar face.

Because after more than 14 years at the helm, Andy Gatcliffe is leaving as the club’s chief executive.

But while he will no longer take up a seat in the North Stand at the ground he helped to build, he could still be found elsewhere.

“Maybe I will slip into the South Stand or the East Stand. I probably won’t even tell anyone I am coming.

“It will be very hard indeed.

“I guess the hardest thing will be when we win the Grand Final. My son said can you imagine how you will feel to see them win and not be there.

“It will be heartbreaking, I will be probably sobbing at home!”

The 59-year-old leaves the club in a very different position than when he took over in October 2000.

Then he was called in by Bill Holroyd, still a director at The Halliwell Jones, to carry out a one-year review into the business.

Losing £750,000 a year, the club was close to relegation, had a crumbling Wilderspool Stadium to call home and a bank which no longer wanted to fund them.

“Within a month of starting, I had to tell staff at the club they wouldn’t be getting paid that month. It was heartbreaking. The hardest thing I have ever had to do,” he said.

When those 12 months had passed, Mr Gatcliffe signed another one year deal. It was a job he would keep until he announced he was leaving to take a new position running a portfolio of businesses for Mr Holroyd in February.

“This isn’t what I do. I go into businesses for two or three years max and sort them out.

“But there was something different here.”

The move to the new stadium was that difference.

And for Mr Gatcliffe, it was this, ahead of Challenge Cup wins and Grand Final appearances, that is his greatest legacy.

Warrington Guardian: Chief executive Andy Gatcliffe in front of one of the corners where the extension will take place

“It was the dream. We had a picture of the stadium that we would take to meetings to share that dream.

“When we started we had a full lounge of 70 people crammed into a box in Wilderspool. They would have to walk round the ground to the Brian Bevan Stand in the rain before kick-off and back after it.

“But the businesses gave us that support. And before The Halliwell Jones Stadium was built, we had sold the boxes.

“It was then I knew the club could be financially stable,” he said.

TEAMWORK has been key in the success Warrington Wolves has enjoyed in Andy Gatcliffe’s time at the club.

The departing chief executive says the support of staff, business, the community and especially Warrington Borough Council has been vital in making the club what it is today.

“I cannot thank the council enough. To have that backing has been vital.

“That has been worth so much to us. For them to say the Warrington Wolves is vital for the town and that we have got to support it was crucial.”

The one time he hit national headlines was in 2012 when he missed the Challenge Cup final win over Leeds to attend his son’s wedding in Kent.

“We were having our photo taken and had my phone out with the game on. I remember relaying back to my son while Brett Hodgson was hurt everything that was going on.

“And my new daughter-in-law was telling me to put the phone away!”.

Warrington Guardian: Mr & Mrs Gatcliffe, Simon & Christina, with proud father Andy Gatcliffe. Picture by Paul Meyler

And it is those moments in the build up to games he will miss greatly.

“You build up all week for it and it really matters. You know the players, you know their families and I would feel sick on the morning of games.”

The job advert for a new boss is out now.

Warrington Guardian: Wolves chief executive Andy Gatcliffe and Andrew Johns at this season's game against Wigan

And it will be big shoes to fill for the Wolves which enjoys a £6million turnover and employs more than 600 people on matchdays.

And Mr Gatcliffe believes the new person will need the right skills to succeed.

“You have to to have business skills, leadership, a thirst for success and the ability to sweat the asset of the stadium.”

One thing they will have in place though, is supportive staff.

“The people who work here make it. Not just the players.

“The staff give up time, come in on days off and work extra to make it happen - especially in the run up to Wembley.

“The success is down to them.”

THE Halliwell Jones Stadium is a 'template' for other clubs to follow.

It has been a well used phrased for Mr Gatcliffe over the 14 years he has been in charge at the Warrington Wolves.

And it is one he is rightly proud of.

“When St Helens Salford and now Castleford were building new stadiums, where did they look to? Here. The Halliwell Jones is the template stadium of Super League.

“Sport, health, community and the foundation. It has everything.”