Paul Caddick MBE pays tribute to Gary Hetherington

Saturday's Betfred Super League Eliminator marked Gary Hetherington's final home game as Chief Executive of the Rhinos bringing down the curtain on nearly three decades at the helm at AMT Headingley. Leeds Rhinos Chairman Paul Caddick MBE paid tribute to Gary, who he joined forces with to save the club and their historic home at Headingley back in 1996.

When asked about my relationship with Gary, I suppose it’s taken for granted that we are good friends and work colleagues, but there is also a deep respect that I believe we both have for each other and it has probably been this factor that has maintained our successful working relationship.

When we first got together in 1996, it all seemed so simple but very quickly we realised the size of the challenge and the commitment that would be needed from both of us to even survive, let alone be successful.

Right at the beginning of our working relationship, Gary was working on the concept of opening the club up to the people of Leeds as in the past the stadium was closed except on match days.  Communication between club and fans was limited and communication with the general public was none existent!  So at a time when the club was haemorrhaging money with a team that was struggling on the pitch, Gary was pushing to create a budget to support the creation of the Foundation and the main reason this gained support was because of his personal commitment to this cause, and the enthusiasm he had to deliver it.

One of Gary’s major revering qualities is his ability to keep calm when challenges present themselves and this skill proved vital through the early years together.  My knowledge of professional sport was very limited, but I did have other skill sets which I used to support Gary and help develop the business.  I suppose our success during his reign as both owner with myself and Chief Executive is widely known, but Gary’s commitment and dedication to achieve this is often underestimated.  I would liken it to a swan gliding along looking super calm, whilst paddling like mad under the water!

The Leeds Club under Gary’s leadership has been at the forefront of many new innovations within sport, let alone Rugby League, and I am sure his influence within the game will continue for many years to come.  His decision to personally take on the challenge of London is an example of Gary being at the forefront of what the game needs and where the focus needs to be put.  London is vitally important to the game in order to expand and a strong club in the capital would have a massive influence on the game’s revenues and its public perception.

The Board of Leeds Rhinos working closely with Gary have been restructured with many of his duties being spread across the vastly experienced existing management team to take the club forward and continue his legacy.

This board now includes a new Chief Executive in Jamie Jones Buchanan who has been shadowing Gary over the last year. There is still much to do within the club but rest assured the management team are well placed now to take your club forward!

Finally, on behalf of the club I would like to thank Gary for his commitment and dedication to the club and wish him well in his new venture in London.

Paul Caddick

Chairman