Steve Diamond will juggle the role of chief executive with his current duties at the Premiership club © Getty Images

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Sale Sharks have confirmed that Steve Diamond will become the club's chief executive next month.

The 43-year-old will fill the void left by Mick Hogan who is set to part company with the Aviva Premiership side to take on a role with World Cup organisers England Rugby 2015. Diamond, who returned to the Sharks as their executive director of sport a year ago, will maintain his present duties alongside his new role.

Co-owner Ian Blackhurst confirmed the new arrangement at a media conference this afternoon, likening Diamond's new role to that formerly occupied with great success at Harlequins by Mark Evans. "Brian [Kennedy, Blackhurst's fellow co-owner], Steve and I have discussed this for some time," Blackhurst said, in comments reported on the club's official website.

"The other example I can think of where the chief executive was involved whilst running rugby matters is Mark Evans at Harlequins. He set the foundations for where they are today. The strength of the management, both playing-wise and on the commercial side, is developed and we're very pleased that Steve is back at his spiritual home."

The club was also expected to announce plans to groundshare with rugby league side Salford City Reds with both sides reportedly set to play at the recently-completed £26million, 12,000-capacity stadium at Barton. But any such switch remains some way off with the club unable to confirm a move away from their current Edgeley Park home that they have shared with Stockport County FC since 2003.

"Negotiations about a future ground are ongoing, and there could be an announcement within four to six weeks," the club said in a statement following a media briefing. On that front, Blackhurst provided an update on the stadium situation and that regarding the club's Carrington training ground. He said: "We own Edgeley Park - it's our ground. There's been a lot of speculation and coverage about the stadium near Barton Bridge - a fabulous facility - and we are in negotiations, but it has to be commercially right.

"The investment at Carrington in medical and training facilities for the players has proved worthwhile, and we propose to double the size of the building so that all the administration can be based here. Hopefully, this can be in place when the players return after the close season."

Diamond has overseen a turnaround in fortunes for the Sharks, who are currently fifth in the Premiership table, with two more signings set follow a host of names to have joined the 2005-06 champions in recent months.

Diamond revealed the news on the new signings when he said: "We've worked over Christmas, but other clubs haven't so we can't make any announcements today. What we did pre-season was put so many people in place that we don't need radical changes now. Just two or three, maybe."

He added: "Every side I've been associated with - Saracens, Northampton, here - has operated within the salary cap. Money has been spent at the club on the infrastructure - a full-time doctor plus the improved facilities."