4 replies to this topic

[LiondressedasRam]

Article in Guardian about Gleeson joining Reds, contains paragraph:

The deal cannot be confirmed until the long-running negotiations for a significant ownership change at Salford are completed.....when the takeover is officially announced it could have significant implications for other local Championship clubs such as Swinton and Oldham.

Anyone know what this might be referring to?

Should we be worried?

[Jonty]

My brain is probably working overtime and above it's capacity on this one, but the first thought that came to my head was the RFL in an effort to protect Salford City Stadium from becoming the self styled "home of rugby union in the north". After the Bradford scenario it isn't as daft as it might sound!!! In this hare-brained situation the RFL rebrand Salford as "Manchester".

[Jonty]

Maybe it's better news. The Kidd's and Chris Hamilton are moving on and leaving their respective clubs to people that have their best interests at heart!

[PhillH]

A line clearly designed to make the article a matter of interest to supporters beyond Salford City Reds - and its had the desired effect by you posting the link!

Personally I very much doubt there is any "hidden" substance beyond what we already know.

Clearly there are going to be implications for Oldham - so "no **** Sherlock" - its already been widely tipped that the Roughyeds are going into one of these god forsaken "partnership" agreements with Salford.

Clearly there are going to be implications for Swinton - "no **** Sherlock" again - given Salford City Council got so carried away with its own mantra that its spent £20m+ on a flawed vision of a new stadium at Barton that's proven to be not economically sustainable. The council's own finance officers told Mr Merry that it would be so when they looked at the figures many moons ago, but he chose not to listen and had the power to railroad it through anyway.

If and when Peel do take over it will be very interesting. The powers that be will undoubtedly spout forth with positive mantra. And there can be little doubt they know more about customer relations, marketing and promotion than the rest of the rugby league world put together and some. BUT, to say Peel is a "commercially astute" company would be the understatement of the decade. They are not in the habit of making a loss. Making a profit is a difficult thing to achieve whilst running a RL club, especially one in the position Salford City Reds currently is, so surely this is not something Peel would contemplate unless they have got the council absolutely over a barrel in some way?

[marshy1]

100% spot on Phil. I thought pretty much along those lines also. Peel are no mugs and I doubt they accept loss leaders.
The only way it could possibly affect Swinton is with the club being invited to play at Barton maybe as a sweetner in our quest for Agecroft, but highly unlikely given the rental figures quoted for Sale and Salford.