RUGBY League fans could have a role in saving Huddersfield’s George Hotel.

The town’s MP Barry Sheerman is exploring the idea of “crowd-sourcing” as a way of safeguarding the future of the hotel, which shut two weeks ago.

He believes rugby league fans across the world may be willing to donate money to preserve the hotel – the birthplace of the sport.

Receivers were called in earlier this month after the shutdown of the historic hotel.

All 35 staff working there were made redundant.

The hotel has been on the market for £1.4m, but experts believe it would cost a considerable sum to revamp it to make it a success.

The George was the venue on August 29, 1895, for a meeting of 21 rugby clubs.

They voted 20-1 to break away from the Rugby Football Union to form their own union, which became the Rugby League in 1922.

A museum, in recognition of the hotel’s historic connection to rugby league was opened by Mike ‘Stevo’ Stephenson in 2005.

Now Mr Sheerman and a group of prominent Huddersfield businessman and civic leaders are hoping they can help.

The group includes University of Huddersfield vice-chancellor Bob Cryan, businessman Graham Leslie, Kirklees Council leader Mehboob Khan and the council’s chief executive Adrian Lythgo.

Clr Khan said: “We are getting together to see how public and private sectors can work to create an environment in which an investor would be interested in getting involved with The George Hotel.”

They plan to meet later this week to discuss possible options for The George.

Mr Sheerman said: “I have already held preliminary talks with English Heritage and they are concerned. We want to see this hotel saved and at the heart of Huddersfield.

“Crowd-sourcing is one possible avenue we could explore.”

Rugby league fans across the world know the debt the sport owes to The George and if we could persuade thousands of them to invest, it could be vital.

“We could end up with a project in which fans have invested a few pounds to become shareholders in an iconic venture which is at the heart of the sport they love.

“We don’t know yet how the maths will stack up, but I am sure that if a businessman was interested in taking on the hotel, the help from rugby fans could be vital.

“We need to see if a package can be put together to help save this heart of Huddersfield”.