472 replies to this topic

[dogthebountyhunter]

Well of course it isn't. but people keep suggesting changing the name to another City's name.... which will never work!!!

[Pottsy]

The name is not really the issue, though, is it?

No, it's not.

Unfortunately, one or two fantasists seem to hijack every Salford thread and peddle the same cod marketing/branding theories, with little to no understanding of the local area.

Salford needs to raise its game locally in all sorts of ways. It also needs to do its best to appeal to people in neighbouring areas such as Trafford and Manchester.

Rebranding will simply alienate existing fans and will attract far fewer supporters in their place.

As has been pointed out sensibly elsewhere on this thread, the name of the club hasn't prevented the likes of Arsenal, Green Bay Packers, Everton FC etc from developing massive support from well outside their titular hinterland.

[Pottsy]

Well of course it isn't. but people keep suggesting changing the name to another City's name.... which will never work!!!

And they'll keep doing the same thing on every thread.

[The Parksider]

1. Salford needs to raise its game locally

2. It also needs to do its best to appeal to people in neighbouring areas such as Trafford and Manchester.

1. A local club for local folk eh?

2. So what about people in Swinton, Ashton, Oldham, Wythenshaw, Stockport, Bury, Heywood, Bolton, Sale, Macclesfield, and those up at Burnley, Blackburn and Nelson and plenty of other places that may want to watch Superleague or may be inspired by pro RL to form clubs.

SL clubs do best when they widen their appeal as far and wide as they can. The Motorway links to the stadium lead to many places in a relatively short period of time...

[Pottsy]

Did you not read the second comment?

[Yakstorm]

Changing the Reds location name from Salford to Manchester isn't going to be the magic fix that see's the club go from where it currently is to suddenly being a powerhouse of Super League. As mentioned before, all the change will do is alienate existing fans, and I doubt very much it will bring any new fans.

Before Salford considers trying to take over Manchester, they need to get their own shop front right. Currently as a club, they do not portray a professional image and clearly based upon their financial plight, they are managing themselves in a professional manner. Hopefully this new investor can start to bring in some of these required business processes to turn that part of the club around.

That said not everything is bad at Salford, they have a great new ground, they have history, they have a still loyal supporter base which is of a reasonable size, and more promising is they have a significant latent supporter base just waiting to be drawn back to the club for some reason. If they can become more competitive on the field, improve their front office, as a club they have some significant potential to turn around.

Outside of improving the business processes (and being honest, some of this could just be because of lack of adequate resources, the people involved might all be quite competent.), my only other suggestion for the club would be to get someone to tweak their logo... never been a fan, always felt it looks a bit amateurish, something simple like what Gazf did would work well for the club (http://gazf.info/wor...3_ESL_SAL_0.jpg)

[Padge]

Both sides of this argument are wrong, because neither side has anything to back up their standpoint.

Changing their name to Manchester may bring in more people.
It may bring in more people but drive away existing people.
Staying as Salford may put off Manchester people
Maybe being Salfchester may be the ideal deal.
Selling Salford in Manchester may do the business.

Nobody knows, but Salford as Salford playing in Salford hasn't worked for years and that's a fact we do know.

The old expression springs to mind, if you always do what you have always done then you will always get what you always got.

[The Parksider]

Did you not read the second comment?

Did you not see the smiley I know you know, I just articulated your vision a bit better....

Many on here will want Salford ring fenced from "Championship areas" or assume Soccer/RU areas don'r have RL fans.

[The Parksider]

Both sides of this argument are wrong, because neither side has anything to back up their standpoint.

Nobody knows, but Salford as Salford playing in Salford hasn't worked for years and that's a fact we do know.

I'd love to see actual figures of who out of the c. 4,000 regular salford fans lives where, and where were they born.

On here you have to say things a million times but Cas Vegas one said all the Cas fans he knew didn't come from Castleford.

There is a danger that out of 4,000 Salford fans more than half could come from outside salford.

In fact given Salford is a contrivance and the actual area is small - being one of five towns, I bet the majority of the 4,000 were NOT born in Salford nor live there.

That won't matter. The name "Salford" shouts out "Superleague rugby" as well as "Wigan" does. The problem is the name Salford is currently synonymous with "losers". The names irrelevant the poor performances are the problem.

Edited by The Parksider, 12 January 2013 - 09:11 AM.

[The Parksider]

The old expression springs to mind, if you always do what you have always done then you will always get what you always got.

Excellent point, but when the core support of failing RL clubs are so traditional and parochial, clubs won't risk upsetting the old inadequate audience to try to get to a new audience.

There's no need to change the name but there is a need to break out all across Manchester and up every road leading to the M60.

[Wellsy4HullFC]

If you want a club in Manchester in SL, support the Mancunians, find them a multi-million pound investor and see if they can go up the leagues.

You can't just expect another club to take away it's identity against its will. If it is true that the Salford name is holding them back (no evidence), then they'll find their level. If it's not true, sky's the limit.

[Padge]

If you want a club in Manchester in SL, support the Mancunians, find them a multi-million pound investor and see if they can go up the leagues.

You can't just expect another club to take away it's identity against its will. If it is true that the Salford name is holding them back (no evidence), then they'll find their level. If it's not true, sky's the limit.

Both Manchester and Salford are University cities, surely someone should be sponsoring one, the other or both to perform some research into what is holding the two cities back as far as RL is concerned and what future strategy may work.

[cookey]

Some of you might enjoy reading the Sale Sharks messageboard on rugbynetwork - I believe it's called open rebellion! I'm just helping to stir a little.

[Pottsy]

If you want a club in Manchester in SL, support the Mancunians, find them a multi-million pound investor and see if they can go up the leagues.

You can't just expect another club to take away it's identity against its will. If it is true that the Salford name is holding them back (no evidence), then they'll find their level. If it's not true, sky's the limit.

Wellsy, as always, the voice of common sense

[Pottsy]

If you want a club in Manchester in SL, support the Mancunians, find them a multi-million pound investor and see if they can go up the leagues.

You can't just expect another club to take away it's identity against its will. If it is true that the Salford name is holding them back (no evidence), then they'll find their level. If it's not true, sky's the limit.

Wellsy, as always, the voice of common sense

[Pottsy]

Both Manchester and Salford are University cities, surely someone should be sponsoring one, the other or both to perform some research into what is holding the two cities back as far as RL is concerned and what future strategy may work.

Yes, because that's a real burning iss

[Pottsy]

Both Manchester and Salford are University cities, surely someone should be sponsoring one, the other or both to perform some research into what is holding the two cities back as far as RL is concerned and what future strategy may work.

Yes, because that's a real burning issue for both cities. Maybe you should get Eric Pickles on the case.

[Pottsy]

Some of you might enjoy reading the Sale Sharks messageboard on rugbynetwork - I believe it's called open rebellion! I'm just helping to stir a little.

I'll have a l

[Middleman]

The sale of the club is to be formally announced on Monday apparently.
If true it will a Lazarus like turnaround from a month back when it looked like the end of the road for 130 yr old club.

Name changes - Catchment areas are a mute point , Salford for all the effort & money Wilkinson ploughed in have lurched from drama to crisis year on year, the perception of the club has always been one of has-been strugglers, minnows. since the Snape years ofthe 70's
Now is an ideal time to alter the perception of the club , not with a badge change or name change but with a change in belief from boardroom to terrace. With enough money spent wisely in the right areas . Salford can develop talent & blood talent , it's been difficulty in hanging onto them that been the problem.

Edited by Middleman, 12 January 2013 - 02:22 PM.

[Pottsy]

Some of you might enjoy reading the Sale Sharks messageboard on rugbynetwork - I believe it's called open rebellion! I'm just helping to stir a little.

I'll have a look. What's your name on there?