Swinton Lions have unveiled plans to rebrand as Manchester Lions for the 2020 season.
The Championship club have filed an application for a change of title though officials insist that they will maintain their Swinton individuality by maintaining the colours and like the return of the famous white’V’ over the blue top.
Swinton state the shift is required to capitalise on the 2021 World Cup and to guarantee the club’s financial stability by broadening its appeal to a larger audience, with the Town of Manchester Council and Trafford Metropolitan Borough Council.
A statement from the team stated:”This choice is definitely not to get shareholder gain, but contrary to the genuine requirement to secure a future of their club and save it from extinction.
“It is also worth noting that the board have reversed numerous firm approaches to unite different clubs from the immediate past but these strategies are rejected because they were speculative and could do nothing to protect the lineage of the Lions as a standalone historical club.
“The plank firmly believe that there is a substantial opportunity to expand the appeal of Swinton by getting THE rugby league team of Manchester.”
Swinton, who abandoned their older Station Road ground say the team will continue to play with at Heywood Road in Sale and long-standing plans to construct a new residence are unlikely to come to fruition.

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