BRADFORD Park Avenue have confirmed that wealthy USA-based businessman Gareth Roberts is the club’s new owner after buying out majority shareholder Bob Blackburn.

Blackburn has been in charge of the club for eight years and he will leave his current role of chief executive officer but has accepted a position as honorary vice president.

Roberts is currently in Texas and will make a statement after he passes the FA’s fit and proper person’s test.

It is understood that Roberts was part of the Avenue consortium that launched a bid to take over Bradford Bulls.

Outgoing finance director Kevin Hainsworth said: “Gareth will take over and appoint his own board members so this takeover will not affect anything that is happening at the club at this present time.

“However, I have promised to work alongside the new people during a takeover period to allow a smooth transition. Gareth lives in the States and he will probably be there over the Christmas and New Year period so I don’t think there will be any more statements coming out of the club until after the holidays.

“I think he will be bringing two people onto the board, one of them is based in Leeds and the other in Knaresborough but, like Gareth, their roots are in Bradford.

“I have sent them all the forms they need to fill in regarding the FA’s fit and proper person’s test, which they must fill in and return.

“Once that’s done I think we will be able to move on, although it’s difficult to put a timescale on things, purely because of the logistics of it with it being Christmas.

“It will be good for the club because Gareth is in a position to take the club forward.”

Blackburn said in a statement that he had enjoyed his time at the helm and that even though it had been a rollercoaster ride it had marked a successful period for the club.

Hainsworth added: “Without Bob’s involvement the club would not have got this far and without getting this high in the pyramid we wouldn’t have got people like Gareth coming along.

“All in all the club it is very promising news. Me and Bob have had a positive influence on the club in our time and will both enjoy being supporters in the coming years.”