A group of Rochdale Hornets fans, in conjunction with London-based author, economist and lifelong supporter Paul Ormerod, have launched a bid to save the financially crippled Co-operative Championship One club.

One of the founder members of the breakaway Northern Union in 1895, Rochdale were voted into administration by their shareholders earlier this month in order to stave off a winding-up order by the Inland Revenue over an unpaid £55,000 tax bill.

Now the Hornets Nest Egg group has linked up with Ormerod with a view to taking over the club and forming a supporters' co-operative.

Ormerod will become honorary president of Rochdale Hornets Rugby Football League Club Society Limited, while the trust's members would be primarily responsible for the running of the club.

"Our aim is to create a club that will embody the co-operative values that were first started in Rochdale when the Co-op was formed in 1844," Ormerod said.

"We feel that the innovative model of having supporters play such an influential role in the running of the club could provide a template for others to follow in the future."

The group is in talks with the club's administrators and have kept the Rugby Football League informed of their intentions.

Hornets are due to kick off the new season at neighbours Oldham in the Northern Rail Cup on Sunday week. Tweet