MARWAN Koukash has teased the possibility of bringing a brand new professional team to Cumbria, with an eye on a place in Super League.

Koukash has been out of the sport since last year, having handed over control of Salford Red Devils to a community trust after four years as owner.

But speaking on last night's edition of Rugby League Back Chat , broadcast on FreeSports , the multi-millionaire stated how he sees the county as a source of untapped potential.

And he added that were he to get involved with professional rugby league in Cumbria, it would be with a completely new operation rather than one of the three established clubs – who he believes would get on board.

"There is a lot of potential there," Koukash told the show. "If I was to ever get involved in Cumbria or that part of the world, I would start from scratch.

"I wouldn't be taking over from a club and, hopefully, with the new venture I am bringing in and the excitement it will generate, it will force the other three clubs to join in."

A Cumbrian Super League team has long been mooted, going back as far as the switch to summer when it was initially proposed Barrow Raiders, Workington Town and Whitehaven would merge.

That merger, along with the others proposed at the time, was successfully resisted and the trio continue to maintain strong, individual identities.

Nevertheless, Koukash is in no doubt rugby league supporters in the area would get behind a new top-fight side and, when pressed by interviewer Rod Studd, admitted he envisaged Barrow, Workington and Whitehaven becoming feeder teams for it.

"I think that would work," said Koukash. "You can't persuade them to join forces – that's never going to happen.

"Whereas if you get a club that belongs to Cumbria, those guys who are travelling from Barrow to watch Wigan or Workington to go to St Helens, surely they would travel to support their only club?

"Regardless of whether they want to keep their own identity as a club, this becomes a team that represents the whole of Cumbria.

"My dream would be to have a Cumbrian side that is made entirely of Cumbrians or 90 per cent of that team to be Cumbrian guys who are proud to be wearing that shirt."