ROGER ARMITAGE, a partner in accountants Mazars, is to become a Town director in September.
The 60-year-old has worked on the takeover deal with his friend Ken Davy from the firm's office in Huddersfield and is to join the new regime when he retires at the end of this month.
"I'll obviously be taking a look at the financial side and making sure the club fits within Ken's parameters of at least breaking even and, hopefully, trading with a profit," said Mr Armitage, a lifelong supporter who has worked for the same company for 44 years.
"Ken has done his bit by rescuing the club and now we hope the supporters do their bit so that we can do the housekeeping properly. We can only pay out what comes in and we very much need as much support as we can get."
Mr Armitage and wife Wendy live at Linthwaite. They have a son, Martin, 32, who was educated at Colne Valley High, and three grandchildren.
Born at Holt Head and educated at Elland, Mr Armitage was senior partner at Revell Ward when Mr Davy's company, DBS, was floated on the stockmarket. He has known Mr Davy for over 40 years.
Mr Armitage's mother Elsie, who is 88, and his sister, Angela Waterhouse, live at Marsden.
His brother, Julian, sits in the Lawrence Batley Stand upper tier and has hardly missed a Town match for years.
"I have watched Town myself since the age of five and my favourite player was Dave Hickson, because he once travelled back on the bus with us into town!" said Mr Armitage.
"It still seems like yesterday when I was watching the unchanged defence, the Frank Worthington era was enjoyable and then the Mick Buxton teams when I was taking my son along to watch."
Martin works for accountants Simpson Wood in Huddersfield and his wife, Karen, is with Mazars in Leeds.
"I am looking forward to working at the club and with Ken," added Mr Armitage.
"I have acted for Ken since I was a junior in the firm and we have had a very good friendship and mutual respect throughout that time.
"Ken is a man of vision and what he has done fo the Giants and for Town is tremendous."
Mr Davy who has now rescued both major sporting organisations, said: "Yesterday was an historic day for the football club. It was also an important day for the rugby club, the Stadium and for the town itself.
"There were times when it looked like we weren't going to make it. The fact we have reflects credit on the whole town. In taking Town forward, I am keen to take maximum advantage of the synergy between the football club, rugby club and stadium.
"While the clubs will remain separate companies, each can gain in strength from the other and benefit from a financially sound, well-managed stadium."
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