Pinkerton, 48, was appointed this week in the newly created position and will oversee the commercial arm of the Wildfires as well as the rugby operations, including an academy run in conjunction with the NSW Waratahs.

"The board has put a really good strategic plan in place which has been formed over the past 18 months," Pinkerton said. "I'm part of that team now and want to push through with their vision. It's pretty exciting."

From Newcastle, Pinkerton played 70 games for the NSW Waratahs, played professionally in England with Sale and spent 10 years in the Shute Shield at Randwick.

At the end of his playing career, the back-rower returned to Newcastle and operated a highly successful design and manufacturing business.

He has stayed involved in the game as coach of the Hunter representative teams and Hawthorne Club sevens program.

"Stuart is the perfect fit," Wildfires president Brett Sutherland said. "He knows the Wildfires, he knows the Shute Shield and most importantly he knows Hunter rugby.

"Whilst the role brings with it some commercial expectations around managing corporate partners and operating budgets, where Stu will add a lot of value is our rugby operations."

The Wildfires, which consists of two senior grades, under-20s and a women's team, have been guaranteed a place in the Sydney competition for three years.

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Pinkerton and the board are planning beyond that and are developing a program for sustained success.

"On-field performance is not the only indicator in the first couple of years," Pinkerton said. "There is a lot of groundwork to be done. We are really looking to develop pathways, get some traction in the sporting landscape of Newcastle to develop and attract young players.

"The women's team and the colts are just as important as the men. We are looking to develop as many girls as we are boys.

"You will always have to recruit in certain areas but the idea is to develop your own. If you look at the successful teams in other codes and rugby, the teams which develop their own juniors are the ones who have continued success, not just have a couple of good years and then drop off again.

"Getting that pipeline of development is very much what we want to do."

The newly formed academy is designed to attract players and prevent the region's best kids from being lured to Sydney.

"You can see with our recruitment so far, I lot of players are attracted to living in Newcastle," Pinkerton said. '"As well as the academy, we are forming a relationship with the Newcastle University.

"We can offer everything a Sydney club can offer without living in Sydney. :It is hard to succeed if you are a country kid living in Sydney, especially unsupported and without a family environment. We can be a very good option for a player coming out of high school who has his eyes set on professional rugby."

Pinkerton said the Wildfires were also committed to growing the connection with local clubs.

"We want it to be a two-way relationship," he said. "Ideally, we will have players filter back through to the local clubs. Essentially everyone wants to improve rugby in the Hunter. The Wildfires have a big role to play."

Pinkerton said the Wildfires role would be a challenge but one he was excited to take on.

"I have been trying to do this in an amateur capacity through coaching the Hunter rep team and doing the Hawthorne Club sevens program," he said. "I have been fortunate to have someone like Peter Sarroff as a mentor. His guidance and support has been invaluable."

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