Adam Bates new chief executive of Rochdale Hornets

New Hornets chief executive Adam Bates with club chairman Mark Wynn

Rochdale Hornets has named Adam Bates as the new chief executive of Rochdale Hornets.

Bates is well known within rugby league in Rochdale and the wider area and has established strong links with the game in the Midlands and South of England.

He will join the club from January in preparation for the 2017 Championship campaign.

Mark Wynn, Rochdale Hornets chairman, said: “I am really excited to be able to announce Adam Bates as our new CEO. Adam is a rugby league fanatic who has an impressive pedigree in sales and marketing.

“He is someone who I have known and been aware of for a long time and we have watched him from afar develop a thriving rugby league community in and around the East Midlands over the past few years.

“I was pleased with the volume of candidates we had for the role following Ryan’s [Bradley] departure and it has been a lengthy and painstaking process to get the right person in place, but I believe in Adam we have that.

“I wish to thank our members and supporters for their patience in this process but it was imperative that the club took the time to allow for a thorough hiring process. I also wish to thank the certain group of members who have rolled their sleeves up and got stuck in with the running of the club when there was no day-to-day management in place. That is what being a members owned club is all about.”

Adam Bates explained: "I am delighted to take on this role with Rochdale Hornets. Having been involved in rugby league for many years, I have been a strong admirer of what Hornets have achieved since becoming a members owned club.

“I am looking forward to working with the board to continue building the Hornets brand, as well as developing new and innovative ways of making the club an attractive prospect for both fans and the local business community.

“I recognise that with the success of promotion and the demands of Championship rugby league will be a real challenge. However, I'm excited by this and confident that we can continue to go from strength-to-strength. I will be doing everything I can to support Alan and his team to achieve success."