West Wales Raiders owner has taken over the running of the bar and restaurant facilities at their Stebonheath Park home to support their aim to become the third Welsh club in the RFL professional ranks.

Over the past three years, the Raiders have been making all the right noises to show they are a serious contender to enter the professional ranks of League 1.

In a region with very little rugby league exposure compared to other sports they have shown they can manage a club exactly like the other professional clubs in Wales.

Not only do they have an under 15, under 17 and two senior teams, but they support, coach and mentor 13 secondary schools, and two universities that are directly linked to the club, and now they have taken the next step in taking over the control and running of Stebonheath Park social club, restaurant and all the bars at the stadium, showing that this team is here to stay.

Since the creation of West Wales Raiders they have always had their home ground at Stebonheath Park in Llanelli. Stebonheath Park has primarily been used as a football ground but that changed in 2014 when the Raiders joined the Reds of Llanelli Town AFC to share this ground as their home. Now they have gone one step further by taking over the bars and restaurants in and around the ground.

West Wales Raiders owner Andrew Thorne said: “I’m really pleased to have finally sorted out the details with the council and the other parties and I’m looking forward to working with the Reds and other vested people to take the club and hopefully the stadium to where it needs to be.

“Stebonheath Park is a fantastic venue and it is safe to say it is one of the best grass pitches that any Rugby League team will get to play on. The Reds and other football teams have had this privilege for many years.

“I’m hoping with some hard work the Social club, restaurant and the other bars around the ground will grow with the sports that play there.

“With regards to the Rugby League team, I feel we are more than ready to move to the professional ranks as we are financially stable and have a large and loyal fan base. We have already submitted our expression of interest to the RFL and once the politics of the sport are sorted, hopefully it won’t be long before the RFL takes notice as there are teams all over the UK that want to help develop the sport outside of the so-called heartlands.

“It is no secret that I wanted to take over the stadium and it is still my ambition to do that and work with the football to develop a facility where both teams will have all they need to compete at the highest level. I hope the supporters of both sports help support the club so we can help build the club and stadium for the benefit of all who use it.”

Chris Thair, chief executive officer of Wales Rugby League said: “This is very encouraging for rugby league in Wales and commitments such as these show how well the sport is developing. Most successful sports clubs have revenue making facilities on site that help support their activities and widen their appeal to the local community. Stebonheath is a quality facility, one we took a televised World Cup qualifying game to last year and I’m delighted for everyone involved in the club and in particular club chairman Andrew Thorne. All our clubs, and indeed ourselves as the National Governing Body, need permanent homes and this is another step forward towards that vision.”