League: Billionaire hungers to buy majority stake in Titans

Marwan Koukash.

English billionaire Marwan Koukash is ready to buy the Titans as the Salford City owner ramps up plans to achieve his dream of owning a club in the NRL.

Koukash has hired a consortium of Australian-based business colleagues to perform due diligence on taking a majority stake in the Titans.

Two NRL-controlled clubs will square off today at Cbus Super Stadium when the Titans host the Knights, who were rescued by the governing body following Nathan Tinkler's ownership crisis last season.

The NRL are determined to stabilise the Titans before considering private investment but Koukash has confirmed he is waiting in the wings to buy the Gold Coast's licence.

The 56-year-old, an eccentric, self-made former Palestinian refugee is one of world sport's richest men with an estimated wealth of $3 billion.

As part of his investment proposal, Koukash would look to stage matches in Dubai and Las Vegas to give the Gold Coast a global footprint.

"You can say I have stepped things up," Koukash said. "I have decided investing in an NRL club such as the Titans is the right way.

"We'll see what develops over the next few months, but I have asked some people in Australia to look into it for me. I won't say how much money I am prepared to spend, I will disclose that to the NRL.

"But I am serious and this opportunity [to buy the Titans] works for me because I would only ever look at a club if I had the majority share. If the NRL and the Titans are looking for a majority shareholder, that will suit me just fine."

Koukash, the biggest owner of racehorses in Britain, held talks last year with property tycoon Phil Murphy about buying out his 22 per cent shareholding in the Broncos.

The pair discussed the proposal for three months, but Koukash's interest dwindled when it became apparent the Broncos' majority owner, News Limited would not sell their 68 per cent share.

Now Koukash has his heart set on the Titans. He wants to purchase the club within 12 months and says the NRL's decision to reclaim the Titans' licence last month has given him certainty over the Gold Coast's future. Koukash previously called for the Titans to be moved to Brisbane, but says he would keep them on the Gold Coast while making strategic decisions about the location of nominated home games.

"I would love to be involved in the NRL, I am desperate to be involved in it, but I need to be as right for the club as the club needs to be right for me. I can appreciate the NRL wants to fix the Titans but, once they are ready to hand over the licence, I will express my interest in buying them.

"The NRL's strategy is to keep the Titans on the Gold Coast, which is fine. I would play the majority of games on the Gold Coast but take a couple of games on the road to help the club financially.

"We could play the Warriors, for example, in New Zealand and I would consider playing either an exhibition or premiership game in places like Dubai and Las Vegas."

Titans co-owner Darryl Kelly, who pumped $5 million into the former entity, is currently in talks with the NRL, but has no interest in a majority share. He welcomed additional investment.

"At an appropriate time, the NRL will welcome approaches from private investors interested in taking over the running of the club," an NRL spokesman said.

— Sunday Mail