Wakefield chief executive James Elston hailed the RFL's decision to renew the club's Super League licence.
Wildcats granted Super League licence for 2012-2014
Wakefield chief executive James Elston hailed the Rugby Football League's decision to renew the club's Super League licence.
The Wildcats, who have been in the top flight for the past 13 years, were widely considered to be the side most likely to make way for the promotion of Widnes Vikings in 2012.
But the RFL sprang a surprise on Tuesday when they announced the Super League licenses for the three-season period from 2012 to 2014.
Crusaders, the Welsh expansion franchise that entered Super League in 2009, withdrew their application and Championship outfit Halifax were overlooked.
"To sit and have to watch your future live is an unbelievable thing to have to do, when you have got peoples' families and lives and futures at stake," Elston told
Sky Sports News.
"It was just amazing. An absolutely fantastic result. But we have said all along we deserved it. We are not one of the worst 14 licences in Super League and this has proved us right."
Facilities
Wakefield's Super League future had been in doubt as the facilities at their ground fail to meet minimum standards.
The club has also had financial problems and were eventually docked four points in February after surviving several winding-up orders and entering administration.
Local businessman Andrew Glover took Wakefield out of administration and revealed plans for a £500,000 revamp of the Rapid Solicitors Stadium to increase the covered accommodation to 10,000 and lift the overall capacity to 12,000.
They also remain committed to pressing ahead with plans for a new stadium just off the M62 motorway.
"It is absolutely phenomenal the work that has been put in," added Elston. "To see where we were and the feeling that the supporters had in December when the first winding-up order came and then the next one came...
"To bring it to this now... this is the start now. This is the start of the journey."
Champagne
Elston was joined at a media conference by Glover, who admitted the pair had drunk some champagne to toast the news, while coach John Kear and a number of club staff also joined in the celebrations.
"We'd been asking for a tip off all week, but the RFL told us to watch it at the same time as everybody else," Glover said.
"We should publicly thank all the staff, the team, the fans, It just shows that it's been worth all the work and effort."
