The New Zealand Warriors have moved quickly to deny reports that the club's owners were about to buy the London Broncos club and establish Ivan Cleary or Kevin Campion as coaches.
The Sunday News reported that club owners Cullen Sports were ready to buy the British Super League club in their November 21 issue, claiming that the recently signed pair of Cleary and Campion had been earmarked for the coaching job.
While Cullen Sports have admitted showing interest in the purchase of the struggling London side, they confirmed that the Warriors were their priority interest and that any deal with London was a long way off.
Warriors chief executive Mick Watson released a statement on Monday saying there was no plans to move either assistant coach Cleary or defensive co-ordinator Campion to the London organisation should the owners purchase the London Broncos.
"Ivan and Kevin have been signed by the Warriors for a specific purpose," he said.
"They are both integral components in our plan to return the Warriors to where we believe the club should be in 2005 - and that's as a force in the NRL.
"Ivan and Kevin are part of a carefully-designed coaching structure we have worked to put together after our disappointing year in 2004.
"I can assure our supporters we have no intention of altering our mindset in terms of the personnel we need on our coaching staff. Ivan and Kevin are with us all the way on this one."
However, the purchase of the London Broncos would open the door for Kiwi halfback Thomas Leuluai to move to England without too much fuss.
Leuluai is believed to be keen on leaving the Warriors in order to get more game time, particularly after the club re-signed Stacey Jones and Lance Hohaia as well as the purchase of former Cowboys halfback Nathan Fien towards the end of the 2004 season.
Watson said it was now highly likely that Leuluai would be released from his Warriors contract to take up a contract with the London Broncos.
