Challenge remains to build Leeds dynasty – Hetherington

The Leicester Tigers stalwarts breezed into west Yorkshire two summers ago with a three-year blueprint to re-establish Leeds as a Premiership force.

The first two years have gone to plan with promotion from the second tier augmented by survival in the Premiership, which was confirmed on Sunday with a victory that relegated Worcester.

Building on that is the next phase and although Key and Back will be out of contract at the end of next summer, the club's chief executive feels confident the duo's aspirations can be met at Leeds.

"We never discuss contracts publicly because to be honest the length of a contract is never really an issue," said Hetherington when asked if he thought the pair's growing reputation would attract interest from other clubs.

"It's part and parcel of sport if that was to happen but we are confident we have the structure in place to satisfy their ambitions.

"For us a good relationship between the two parties is more important.

"Many people saw Leeds as a gamble for Neil and Andy as their first job, but it's a relationship that has worked well for both parties.

"They have come here to try and build a dynasty. That was part of the attraction, building a team that could not only compete but could become a powerful entity."

Hetherington had stressed the importance of the Worcester game in the pre-match build-up with the potential 1m victory windfall counter-balanced by the fact that a third relegation in five years would have put their competitive future in jeopardy.

"If we hadn't survived this year there would certainly have been doubts about our fate as a professional entity," said Hetherington, who confirmed the club's partnership with Leeds Met University would continue into next season and beyond. "There's no question about that so the win was hugely significant.

"We always knew this would be a tough year and it's a remarkable achievement, and full credit to the coaching staff and players.

"The bookmakers and the critics in the media had us at the bottom at the end of the season and we have defied everybody, apart from our own players and coaches and everyone at the club, who always believed in themselves.

"There have been some good days in the past – reaching the Heineken Cup and winning the Powergen Cup in 2005 – but in terms of defying the odds this probably eclipses all of the above.

"Going forward now we have for the first time an equal share in the Premiership that will enable us to be competitive."

Leeds have confirmed they will not be offering a new contract to World Cup winner Andy Gomarsall for next season.

Henry Paul, Peter Bucknall, Jason Strange, Joe Bedford and Tommy McGee will also be leaving the club.