
St Helens have confirmed a major appointment with the Super League club moving to navigate the “challenging times for rugby league”.
The Red Vee have been one of the sport’s most dominant forces in recent years with their run of four consecutive Grand Finals from 2019 to 2022 unprecedented in the Super League era.
Despite that dominance, 2024 marked the first year that the club did not win silverware since 2017 as Paul Wellens’ side limped into the play-offs with injuries hampering them heavily throughout the campaign.
On the field they have made a number of changes with three NRL signings arriving in the form of Kyle Feldt, Tristan Sailor and ex-Super League man Lewis Murphy. There have also been two coaching appointments with Lee Briers arriving from Brisbane Broncos and Eamon O’Carroll from Bradford Bulls.
Recently, the club also had a major boost with the reports that Chief Executive Mike Rush turned down a move to NRL club St George Illawarra Dragons.
Now, St Helens have now confirmed a major off-field appointment ahead of the 2025 season with the club appointing a new Director of the Club.
St Helens make key change as Director joins the Super League club
St.Helens R.F.C. can confirm the appointment of Mike Fairhurst as a Director of the Club.
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— St.Helens R.F.C. (@Saints1890) January 21, 2025
A club statement confirmed the appointment of their new board member with St Helens appointing lifelong fan Mike Fairhurst as Director of the Club.
That statement read: “St Helens R.F.C. can confirm the appointment of Mike Fairhurst as a Director of the Club.
“A life-long Saints supporter, and a member of our local community coming from Haydock, Fairhurst has assisted the Club as a senior accounting partner, providing general financial and commercial advice to the Saints for over two decades since 2002.”
Saints’ chairman Eamonn McManus commented: “Mike provided a first-rate financial advisory service to the Club throughout his long and distinguished professional career. He will now constitute a great addition to our Board, particularly given the increasing, and increasingly complex, financial challenges our sport faces.
“Mike is also a lifelong and passionate supporter of the Saints. He is committed to maintaining our professional sporting excellence and to strengthening our leading position in world rugby league.”
Fairhurst himself added: “Having been a lifelong Saints fan, it is a great privilege and an honour to be asked to join the Board.
“I have worked with Eamonn and the management team for over 20 years and when I retired as a Partner, I didn’t expect such an opportunity to arise.
“I am thankful to the Board for the chance to be part of the club going forward, and to utilise my knowledge and experience, especially during these challenging times for Rugby League.”
