HALIFAX PANTHERS director Adam Butterfield says the psychological boost of removing the minus from the relaunched team’s points tally on the league table would be important for all involved.
Local businessman Butterfield is among the group who brought the Yorkshire club back from the brink after the previous company was liquidated in February.
A condition of the RFL’s acceptance of the new Panthers was a twelve-point deduction, meaning they restarted on minus ten.
Now it’s minus four points after wins over North Wales (home), Salford (away) and Dewsbury (home).
In their tenth match since returning, Halifax were frustrated by letting slip a 28-6 advantage at home to Salford (the visitors won 34-28).
They will aim to get to minus two by beating Swinton on Sunday in a game that will take place at Edge Hall Road Community Stadium in Orrell, near Wigan, because the Lions’ usual Heywood Road base is unavailable.
“The points deduction is something we had to accept, and the main thing is survival,” said Butterfield.
“But a lot of people are working really hard, and getting to zero points would be a big milestone, then we can push for a positive tally.”