WARRINGTON Wolves' latest financial accounts reveal the club has made a six-figure profit for the first time at The Halliwell Jones Stadium.

Wolves ended a desperate financial spell at Wilderspool Stadium by making a £69,000 profit in the first season at their new home and followed that up last year with £126,927 from a turnover of more than £5 million.

The directors of the club attribute the success to "sweating the asset", generating income streams that should secure the financial future of Warrington Wolves.

Those include partnerships with Warrington Borough Council and Warrington Collegiate, forming the charitable trust Warrington Wolves Community Learning and Sport Foundation; Heathcotes, which runs the hospitality facilities at the stadium; and Warrington Primary Care Trust, which has a state-of-the-art health centre in the stadium's East Stand.

The directors say in the club's financial report for the period ended November 30, 2005: "As a consequence, the quality of players has improved and during the 2005 season the team had its highest-place finish of fourth in Super League, leading to a first ever home play-off match.

"The season also saw the highest league attendances since the glory days of the early 1950s, with an average of 11,003."

The report continued: "The directors are satisfied that the completed developments of The Halliwell Jones Stadium have achieved the club's aim to develop a stadium that has a balance of community and commercial facilities.

"This balance will enable the club to go forward on a sound financial footing."

The accounts and directors' report will be considered by shareholders at the annual meeting, which will take place in the Vice President's Lounge at The Halliwell Jones Stadium on August 22 at 6pm.

gdunning@guardiangrp.co.uk