ROTHERHAM Titans and Barnsley Football Club have agreed a groundshare deal for Oakwell which is expected to net the Reds around a quarter of a million pounds.
The arrangement has been made on the proviso that the rugby club get promoted to the Premiership while it is Barnsley's preference that their tenants drop Rotherham from their name.
Barnsley chief executive Ben Mansford told the Chronicle: "The Titans approached us and we feel that, commercially, it would make sense to have them as a tenant if they are playing in the Aviva Premiership. It is definitely going to happen if they go up."
The Rotherham club are almost certain to qualify for the end-of-season play-offs in rugby's second tier, the English Championship, but would not be allowed to play in the Premiership at their current 2,500-capacity Clifton Lane ground which is deemed too small by the Rugby Football Union.
Titans chairman Nick Cragg said: "Of course we would prefer to be playing in Rotherham but there is nowhere in the town for us to play.
"We put a request out to all the sports clubs in the surrounding area and Barnsley and Mansfield were the only clubs to respond positive.
"Mansfield don't meet the requirements of having a 10,000-seater stadium and Barnsley are in South Yorkshire which is a plus.
"Barnsley is a great club. We have visited Oakwell a few times and have been very impressed by the facilities and with Ben and Rachel Hearne (commercial manager). If we get promoted, we will play at Oakwell.
"I would hope that Barnsley fans will embrace having top flight rugby union on their doorstep. They would be able to see some of the best teams and players in the country if not the world."
** The full story appeared in the Barnsley Chronicle, dated April 11. **
