To quote Omar Khan’s hero Sir Winston Churchill, his latest business venture will involve a deal of blood, toil, tears and sweat.

Rescuing Bradford Bulls from the edge of extinction and turning it into a successful sport-based business is likely to be his last major commercial venture and take up most of his time.

Omar, who, along with former Sports Minister and Bradford South MP Gerry Sutcliffe, rescued the Odsal-based rugby league club from administration in September, is also aware that breathing new life into the Bulls will be a long haul.

As Churchill said following the first significant Allied battlefield victory of the Second World War at El Alamein, in North Africa, in 1942: “...this is not the end. It is not even the beginning of the end. But it is, perhaps, the end of the beginning.”

Omar and his cohorts have big plans for Odsal, including £6 million of investment in the years ahead to turn it into the ‘Wembley of the North’.

He sees rejuvenating the Bulls as a key part of Bradford’s overall regeneration – sending out positive signals and emitting a ‘can do’ attitude. If everything goes as planned, the Odsal arena – which has been the subject of previous ambitious development plans which never saw the light of day – will become a key venue for much more than sport.

Omar and his team have ambitions to attract users as disparate as businesses and rock stars, and are in talks with Europe’s leading speedway promoters about bringing the sport back to an arena where it was once a regular attraction.

Why did Omar want to get into the fickle world of sport, which has proved a bed of nails for several successful businessmen?

He’s a Bulls fan – but is determined not to let that cloud his judgement. Omar is clear that he will maintain a strict business approach in rebuilding the club and its assets.

He said the overriding reason he made his successful bid was that he wanted to do something to help Bradford.

“I see a thriving Bradford Bulls as important to Bradford’s regeneration. The city has its problems and has suffered from a bad press over many years. Losing one of its major sports clubs would have been a major blow.

“The Bulls is a well-supported club. It’s a family club and our plans involve making it a hub for many activities over and above rugby league. So far as the sport goes, I want youngsters to feel they can come here and be enthused. I want to create the superstars of the future,” said Omar.

His overriding message, however, is that he’s into the Bulls for the long haul.

Omar added: “This will probably be my last venture and it will take a few years to achieve our aims. It is a business and will be subject to normal business disciplines. The club can be so much more than just rugby league.

“The venue has great potential. For instance, I expect not many people realise that we can cater for up to 1,000 people and the stadium could be used for a wide range of activities.

“I want the fans to feel they can come here at any time and get involved, but no-one should expect miracles. Our vision is for Odsal to become a proper sporting village, and I guarantee you, in the long-term, we will achieve it,” Omar said.

The pressure of clinching the Bulls deal has clearly taken its toll, leaving Omar tired and suffering from a touch of bronchitis “It’s been non-stop. From submitting our bid and then dealing with various bodies and agencies to secure the deal and now getting to grips with the business, it’s full-on,” he said between sips of a soothing tonic.

It’s been a long road for a man who as a 16-year-old trainee mechanic turned his love of food into a thriving business, resulting in two restaurants bearing his name in Bradford and Skipton – where a Churchill coffee lounge honours Britain’s wartime prime minister.

Omar learned cooking from his mother and opened his first restaurant 30 years ago in Manchester Road. In 1995 he was named champion curry chef in a competition run by Bradford Council, beating more than 100 other competitors. This boosted his reputation – and his award-winning chicken tikka masala remains a favourite dish on his restaurant menus. These days, the restaurant business is a family affair with day-to-day running in the hands of various relatives.

Omar has also built up a successful property portfolio as well as being an enthusiastic supporter of a wide range of local, national and international charities. In 2005, he helped raise £35,000 for the Telegraph & Argus South Asian Earthquake Appeal.

Another venture is OK In The Community, which helps provide independent living and support services to people with learning disabilities, physical disabilities and mental health issues.

The organisation, set up two years ago, runs alongside its sister body the OK Academy, which provides training for unemployed and disadvantaged youngsters and actively helps find them work.

The academy now operates at the Bulls, providing an expanding number of places and opportunities, potentially at the club in a range of roles and in the wider world.