Salford Red Devils owner Marwan Koukash has said it is “now or never” for Super League to split and break away from the Rugby Football League.
In a lengthy press conference initially set up to discuss the club’s six-point deduction for breaching the salary cap, Koukash called on his fellow chairmen to back him in a vote of no-confidence against the game’s governing body.
He said that the future of Rugby League lies in the hands of the competition’s 12 chairmen, saying he’s hopeful of arranging a meeting within the next fortnight.
“There’s a lot of support for it and it’s something I will be working very hard for,” he said. “I believe it’s the right time – it’s now or never. In the past there have been many cases to do a similar thing and it reminded me of a snowball effect; it grows, you leave it and it melts and you have to start it again.
“The future of the sport lies in the hands of the 12 chairmen of Super League. Super League should have full control of its finances, its compliance unit, refereeing and the lot.
“I’m talking about a split, 100 per cent. I think it will happen – I believe I just need a majority vote. I have no intention of being the leader of the move, I’m probably the least experienced chairman amongst my colleagues.
“Before the end of the week I will have contacted all my colleagues and I’m going to arrange to get together within the next two weeks. Again, the future of the game rests in the hands of us, it’s up to the 12 chairmen to decide: I need their backing.”
