Friday 13 January 2017 11:09, UK
Sheffield Eagles have confirmed their participation in the 2017 Kingstone Press Championship, although they will revert to being part-time.
The South Yorkshire club have issued a statement in a bid to allay fears for their future after teetering on the brink and insist they are on course to move into a new stadium in Sheffield in 2018.
The Eagles, who were founder members of Super League in 1996 and famously beat Wigan to win the 1998 Challenge Cup final at Wembley, have led a nomadic existence since their Don Valley Stadium home was demolished at the end of 2013 and recently announced they would spend the 2017 season groundsharing with Wakefield.
Sheffield went full-time ahead of the 2016 season but their fortunes suffered on the field and they were dealt a blow by the departure of long-serving chairman Ian Swire.
However, the Eagles say the appointment of Chris Noble as their new chairman has helped stabilise the club and they will be financially viable for 2017, with a host of signings due be announced ahead of their pre-season friendly against Doncaster on Sunday week.
Acting chief executive and head coach Mark Aston said: "We have had a very, very tough time over the past few months but let there be no doubt, Sheffield Eagles will be here for the 2017 season and the signs remain positive for our long-term future.
"We have worked around the clock to ensure the club remains alive and will be able to compete this year and we now have the environment to bring stability back to the Eagles.
"The RFL have said they are happy with our situation coming into the new season and we can say that we are working tirelessly to be competitive on and off the field and rebuild this great club."
Sheffield's statement follows an announcement from League 1 club York that they have agreed a two-year deal to play at Bootham Crescent while Bradford fans are expected to discover on Friday if the Rugby Football League has found buyer for the club after sifting through four sets of business plans in the last four days.
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