Former Leeds boss Neil Back has taken on a new challenge by signing a five-year contract with fifth-tier club Rugby Lions who he says could be in the Premiership in five to seven years.

Back left his job at Leeds in May after the side finished last in the Premiership and received an offer from Rugby owner Michael Aland within an hour of his resignation.

He told the Daily Telegraph: "I received an approach from Michael in May, less than an hour after my resignation from Leeds Carnegie was announced. He sold me his vision of taking this famous club back to the top flight of English rugby, whilst doing something really meaningful for the town."

Aland is the owner and managing director of Vancouver-based Rugby Construction Group and is determined to build a club fit for Rugby town.

He plans to build a new 30 000-seat stadium with retractable roof, hotel and conference centre, but his first order of business was securing the services of Back and England Sevens star Ben Gollings who will fulfill the role of player/attack coach.

Aland commented: "Any time I put a company together I always start with as good a management team as I can get. I looked around the Premiership and the second Neil became available he was my No1 candidate.

"I feel there is a lack of an academy for the developing world of rugby. So my idea was to acquire a club in the UK and bring players through in a way conducive to the country they represent. But this is very much about giving the town of Rugby something of which it can be proud," he added.

Back admitted that this new role at the National League Three Midlands club might be seen as a step down for someone with such high ambitions, but added that this experience could prove invaluable for him if it is indeed successful.

He said: "It is a big call for me having coached in the Aviva Premiership and I have asked myself whether it is a retrograde step given how ambitious I am.

"It's not about money. Nor is this is an easy option, which is why I asked for a five-year contract. But I believe that turning around Rugby and getting the club to the Premiership would be a significant achievement and one I can use as a stepping stone to coaching at the very highest level," he added.