The man who wants to revitalise Toronto Wolfpack has slammed the actions of the previous administrators and pledged to run the club differently if given the chance to take it back into Super League.
The Canadian club pulled out of the league in July after owner David Argyle ran into financial difficulties caused by the coronavirus pandemic but is now hoping to return in 2021 under new ownership.
Carlo LiVolsi, a Toronto businessman who was among the original shareholders in 2017, has already put his proposals for a relaunched club to Super League executive chairman Robert Elstone and Rugby Football League chief executive Ralph Rimmer.
In his first media interview, LiVolsi reveals he fell out with Australian mining magnate Argyle after a disagreement over the way he ran the club.
LiVolsi claims he is among the unpaid creditors and says one of his first actions if he gets the go-ahead to rebuild the club would be to pay the players the three months wages they are due, thought to be worth STG500,000 ($A895,000).
Asked about the club’s previous actions, he said: “It’s disgusting. I know David Argyle more than anyone does, I chose months ago not to speak to him any more because I didn’t like some of the things he did.
“My belief is that you don’t try to promote yourself to be something you’re not for the sake of people liking you from an ego perspective.
“I think it’s unfair to the players who have worked hard and have rent to pay and they can’t even get paid what they’re owed. I think that’s dishonest and it’s not the way you run a business or live your life.
“From a personal perspective, I feel for all the players. I can only say that if we’re given the opportunity, things are going to be much different.
“They will prosper under us, they’re going to make more money and be treated like family versus outcasts how they were treated before.”
LiVolsi, whose business ventures include Wolf Grooming, a Canadian company that became Toronto’s official grooming product in March 2019, says he will be the sole owner but is confident he can pull in major sponsorship and has plans to make the club profitable.
“Essentially, I feel that the prior ownership did a very good job of putting a good product on the field but was devoid of basic structure that you need to run a business,” he said.


