Langtree Park will be the new home of St Helens

But after 10 years of planning and building, the Saints chairman says this arena is what the club and the town have been waiting for.

“It is, dare I say, a great achievement and it’s been over a decade in the offing,” McManus continued.

“It’s been a very difficult process in the extreme and we’ve beaten the odds. We’ve done this at a time when no other sporting club in the country has been able to do so in this current economic environment.

“It’s now as good as complete and it’s a great lift for the club, the sport and most importantly for the town and the people of St Helens.”