After his initial efforts were rebuffed, former Warriors captain Monty Betham is back on the trail to bring the club back to the fans, quite literally.
Amid uncertainty of its future after then-owner Eric Watson confirmed the club was for sale last week at a price tag $20 million, Betham announced he'd be launching a crowd-funding campaign for the side's legion of diehard fans to purchase it themselves by putting up $100 each out of their own pocket.
The campaign was dismissed by CEO Jim Doyle on a logistical level on Friday, but Betham has since enlisted the aid of Watson, announcing via social media Thursday afternoon that he would now be entering into "official negotiations" to contend for ownership.
"Over the last week I have been in some pretty serious discussions and today I can proudly announce that after all your amazing support from the Warriors faithful I have now entered into official negotiations direct with Eric Watson to lead the charge for us - the fans - to purchase the Warriors," Betham posted on Facebook.
"We are now in the contest to buy #OurWarriors"
The former Kiwis hooker who believes it was the overwhelmingly positive response from the public which saw the movement back on track, and is now imploring fans to "put their money where their mouths are."
"I was texting Eric [Watson] over in London and he asked me to give him a call, and we had good chat for a while," Betham told Newshub.
"Basically what's come out of that chat is now the opportunity for his blessing to go out there and become part of the race to buy the club.
"I'm ecstatic about this for the fans, because there's so many passionate fans and I believe we can make this work."
Betham played 101 games for the Auckland-based franchise from 1999 through until 2005 before retiring to pursue a career as a professional boxer.
The Warriors have endured another catastrophic NRL season, missing the playoffs for the sixth-straight year despite boasting a side littered with supposed world class players at key positions.
"This wouldn't have happened without you - the fans. So let's prove how serious we really are," he added on Facebook.
An official release is due this coming Monday at noon.
Newshub.
