binosh

Well Salfords payroll was this week, I wonder if wages were paid?

This is exactly what they are doing.

Reading Matt Shaws latest social media post it looks as though Salford are ignoring the RFL’s conditions of the £500k advance. The club were told by the RFL 5 weeks ago to slash 700k off the wages and still have not, even ignoring clubs over the last weekend and not responding to anyone, essentially they have gone quiet in the hope the club receives an offer (that was supposedly coming in Saturday) and they don’t have to lose players. Very ballsy move considering their financial situation and very disrespectful to the RFL and other clubs. I hope this doesn’t backfire .

Who knows, why did Ellis buy Wakefield? Why are new owners buying London, why did someone buy Hull?

On another note if this doesn’t give the likes of Bradford, York, London and Toulouse a kick up the backside to get their house in order NOW and find some IMG points from somewhere nothing ever will, could potentially see 2 changes to SL for 2026.

Doesn’t have to be doom and gloom, a reduced wage bill may make a takeover a more attractive proposition and could have a stumbling block for new owners, incremental signings could then be made a few months from now, Wakefield fans also though they were doomed when they went down but probably enjoyed the year and it helped build the foundations up better with the help of a new benefactor, it’s all ifs bits and maybe’s now but it doesn’t have to be all bad.

Hopefully new owners can sort someone like that

I agree with all that, however they are in debt millions built up over years, not 1 season and carried on regardless. Budgets should have been cut when they defaulted on historic debt after financial difficulties in 2020. 23/07/2018 Salford ask fans for investment “to sign players” 02/11/2020 Salford docked 3 points due to defaulting on debt. 24/04/2023 Salford ask fans for investment due to “short term” money concerns. 30/05/23 Rowley says we are not a selling club. 06/06/2023 Salford say Dupree not for sale due to fans supporting club to tune of over £350k 26/07/23 Salford sell Dupree anyway. 18/10/23 Salford sell Ackers and Croft to pay wages 24/11/2023 Salford placed into special measures due to fears over their financial sustainability. 22/11/2024 Salford placed in special measures again whilst asking for £500k advance payment of central distribution.

I only had a couple of minutes

I’d be up for that. Question number 1 - I have have £10 in the bank, I lend another £10 from a different bank and then proceed to spend £30 meaning I’m now £10 overdrawn and owe 2 different banks £10 each. Do I…… A, Spend more money sod it. B, Review my spending as it doesn’t match my income. C, Play the Victim see if anyone bails me out. D, Blame the banks. Tricky one this. What would everyone do?

If Salford were serious about their predicament they wouldn’t have waited for the involvement of the RFL and would have sold players on at the end of the regular season after the loss to Leigh, instead they chose to spend yet more imaginary money on lucrative contracts for Hill, Bullock, Sangare and Marsters whilst applying for Elite Academy at a cost of around £250k (minimum) per annum. Their board just don’t take things seriously.

I just don’t buy this rhetoric that you can’t just rely on wealthy owners, plenty of clubs exist and perform without, they just cut their cloth accordingly and play within their means in the relevant division (which is what most people are suggesting Salford do) Batley are a good example of that, Widnes for a few years, Bradford for a few years, Swinton, Rochdale, Barrow, Keighley to name a few, all of which have had to cut their cloth accordingly aswell. But Salford stubbornly won’t do that with the arrogant notion it’s SL or nothing for them. If Danson, Moran, Beaumont, Gaush, Hudgell, Davy or whoever walked away from their clubs and they couldn’t find a buyer to cover it I’d expect all of them to cut costs and play within their means no matter the division so that the club remains for fans. Who knows, maybe Ford et all would have bought Salford instead of Oldham and reinvigorated the club if they weren’t currently in SL overspending and were in the lower divisions. Problem is now they have racked up loads of debt that new owners would be expected to clear. I bet 90% of all sports clubs worldwide have a benefactor.

Martyn I’ve just read your League Express article, Normally i enjoy your work but I have to say this latest piece is really poor. Firstly you are giving such negative vibes about the sport that any of the Sky heirachy who may potentially read that if they had any negotiating skills would definitely use that as leverage to reduce the deal even further thus fulfilling you’re own prophesy. Now o appreciate you’re not the only one, Rugby League in general doesn’t help itself. Secondly, no owners in Super League are going to loan Salford money knowing what a horrific track record they have with money, these guys scrap for every penny they can. Thirdly what makes Salford so different to Bradford, Widnes or Toronto for that matter that they would even consider such a ludicrous option?

How does that work? They don’t pay any bills!

Whilst my previous response was a joke Councils do sometimes help Sports Clubs, usually through agreed and correct channels with agreed terms. Salford have just decided not to pay their rent, relied on Sale to pay the bills, probably aren’t paying their business rates either, owed money to kit suppliers, owed HMRC, had outstanding wages the last 2 months, defaulted on a loan agreement, sold players to pay wages, asked for advanced funding, been into special measures twice in 12 months, rinsed their fan base with some nonsense “Co owners” loan scheme and yet some seem to still be making excuses for them all because they “punch above their weight” on a shoe string budget and Rowley is a miracle working man management extraordinaire. No other club would get this much leeway I guarantee it.