Widnes Vikings has been handed over to a new company, Widnes Rugby League Club Limited.

Joint administrators Peter O’Hara of O’Hara & Co and Chris Brooksbank of O’Haras Limited have today, Friday, completed the sale.

Following their appointment on February 22, the joint administrators moved swiftly to secure a sale in order to enable the club to fulfil its fixtures in the Betfred Rugby League Championship and to preserve 72 jobs at the club.

The business and assets of the club have been purchased for an undisclosed sum by a privately owned, Widnes-based consortium of business people.

Nicola Collins of Clarion’s corporate recovery and insolvency team acted for the administrators.

Joint administrator, Chris Brooksbank, said: "It’s fantastic news that the future of this historic and renowned club has been secured.

"We’d like to thank everyone who has helped to make this possible - the club’s staff who worked without pay for the last week, the fans who have raised over £100,000, the RFL and Halton Borough Council for their support, and, of course, the consortium which now owns the club.

"We hope they have a bright future and a successful season ahead."