Wolves' future depends on stadium ruling

Warrington will find out today whether they will get the new stadium in the town centre that they believe is essential to their future. The town's planning committee will rule this evening on an application for a 12,000-seater rugby ground and supermarket on the site of the old Walker's Brewery.

Warrington will find out today whether they will get the new stadium in the town centre that they believe is essential to their future. The town's planning committee will rule this evening on an application for a 12,000-seater rugby ground and supermarket on the site of the old Walker's Brewery.

"I'm quietly confident," the Wolves chief executive, Peter Deakin, said. "It's a fantastic opportunity for the public of Warrington." The club has called on its fans to be there in force outside Warrington Town Hall. The success of the application would speed the progress of talks with Sale Rugby Union Club about ground sharing or a possible merger.

Deakin said that one possibility would be for Sale's owner, Brian Kennedy, to buy Warrington. "But we are talking to Sale and to other sporting clubs about other uses and other scenarios," he said. "The important thing is that we get permission for the stadium, because without it there is no way that we will be in Super League in three years time."

Meanwhile, Warrington have offered a contract for next season to Rob Smyth, the winger who was on loan to them from London Broncos until last week.

Andy Kelly, the coach sacked by Wakefield early this season, is being lined up for the job with Gateshead, reformed to enter the Northern Ford Premiership next season.

Wigan, who play Bradford in one of the biggest Super League games of the season so far on Sunday night, will give Simon Haughton a run in their reserve team tomorrow night. Haughton has been out for 10 weeks with a foot injury. Wigan already know that Willie Peters will be available again and their coach, Frank Endacott, said: "I've got a few dilemmas."

The Fijian full-back, Waisale Sovatabua, is out of Huddersfield-Sheffield's team for the rest of the season with a torn hamstring, but will be fit to play for his country in the Lincoln World Cup. The Leeds centre Richie Blackmore has been banned for two matches after being sent off for use of the forearm in the game against Castleford on Friday.