HULL KR: How Lakin helped Robins cash in
Lakin was a major influence in KR's return to top-flight rugby, working alongside chairman Neil Hudgell.
Having helped transform the fortunes of the club on and off the field, Lakin moved and became head of commercial affairs at Wolverhampton Wanderers last July.
But not forgetting his past, he ushered sportingbet.com – who sponsor Wolves – in Rovers' direction as they were looking to expand their portfolio of sporting links.
"Our first contact with Hull KR was through Paul Lakin who we know through his role at Wolves," admitted Marc Thomas, head of Sportsbook at sportingbet.com.
"He introduced us to the people at KR, and then Rob Crossland and Justin Morgan came across to see us and absolutely sold the club to us.
"They told us about what they wanted to achieve over the next couple of years and we were really excited about what they said and wanted to be part of it."
The role played by Lakin in bringing the two parties together was also highlighted by chairman Neil Hudgell at the club's press conference yesterday.
"Paul is obviously still a friend of the club and he made the formal introduction and we took it from there," Hudgell said.
"It was a totally free-standing commercial deal we had to sell to them and to be frank I don't think it was a very difficult sell.
"They are aware of us and the progress we have made as a club over the last few years so it was a deal done relatively quickly and suits both parties."
The new deal will see sportingbet.com have its logo on the home and away shirts next season, replacing Parasol, the company of vice chairman Rob Crossland.
But Hudgell stressed the club continues to benefit from Parasol's commercial support.
He said: "Obviously, Rob's company is a big company and he has other directors who have absolutely no involvement in rugby, so that was a commercial deal.
"He is still involved with some commercial sponsorship with the club through Parasol."
Paul Lakin
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