Rovers chairman Neil Hudgell (right) welcomes Blanchard to Hull

Hull Kingston Rovers have appointed Surrey County Cricket Club marketing manager Paul Blanchard as their new chief executive.

Blanchard will take over from Paul Lakin, who is moving to Championship side Wolves at the end of next month.

The 42-year-old told BBC Radio Humberside: "I think the vision Hull KR has, and the club has, means there's enormous potential here.

"I'm going to try and exploit that potential and unlock it."

Blanchard has a wealth of experience in sports management in football, American football and latterly cricket.

He was involved with the Scottish Claymores in the NFL Europe set-up in Scotland and went on to a post with the Scottish Premier League before moving south to Southampton, where he was a leading player in the Saints' move to the St Mary's Stadium.

I think as a club we've made steady progress over the last two or three years but we want, and intend, to be serious players in the game and we want to take that next step up Hull KR chairman Neil Hudgell

One of his biggest tasks will be to move forward the re-development of Craven Park, and that is something that Blanchard is only too well aware of.

He said: "Where the club has got to over the last couple of years is very impressive but it can really take off. I think that probably means, most significantly, developing the North Stand."

Hull KR chairman Neil Hudgell believes they have got the right man in place to forward the club's ambitions in Super League.

"Paul ticks all of the boxes for us," he told BBC Radio Humberside.

"I think as a club we've made steady progress over the last two or three years but we want, and intend, to be serious players in the game and we want to take that next step up."