Ray Cashmere

It's long overdue but if they are going to commit to a strategy of supporting local community clubs and Welsh players then it would be welcome to see them seek involvement in Salford's partnership with WRL & Coleg Y Cymoedd.

Played Salford up here at the weekend in a behind closed doors game

Given the COVID rates in NSW recently it could be that. I'd be surprised if anything happened for the 2022 season.

That article is just an overview of what was said at the fans forum. I certainly didn't take that quote literally having been there, it's just how Paul King seems to get his message across.

You're entitled to that opinion but it's completely detached from the reality which has been discussed in detail over the last 22 pages of this thread. I've no wish to go over that again.

I can only judge the existing board on their track record so far and that track record is one of competence, realism and sustainable ambition. If we can get the move over the line and increase the capacity to at least 6,500 I'll be very optimistic about the direction we're heading.

Ground- upgrades to floodlights & TV Gantry (SL has higher standards than EFL) and raised advertising hoardings. Due diligence suggests v feasible/affordable. Discussions ongoing with architects/construction sector about increasing capacity to between 6.5k and 8k (can build up, not out) subject to planning permission (PP not expected to be major obstacle, more dependent on what we are quoted for the work). Car parking: Ample parking for disabled supporters but recognition of the general problem. Discussions ongoing with several local parties (presumably schools/the council) about parking opportunities in the immediate vicinity. Discussions with local junior clubs and others about park and ride schemes.

All these things were discussed at the fans forum

Does anyone know who Wigan's second marquee is after Bateman? Do they even have one? I'd guess not considering the deal they supposedly offered Williams which suggests that their ability to spend is a bigger concern than restrictions imposed upon their spending.

I completely agree with the sentiment that we should not be holding back the big clubs but I just don't think there are enough big clubs for a salary cap rise to have an impact. I've made this point elsewhere: how many clubs are using the full cap and 2 marquees? Who is knocking on the door arguing the salary cap is holding them back? I think many of the 'bigger' clubs are quite content knowing they can restrict their expenditure to a certain amount that enables them to compete every year. Super League desperately needs more Catalans to push the traditional big clubs to drive up their standards. If we can achieve that, then a raised salary cap will make much more sense.

I think a lot of posters are addressing this from the wrong direction. People can discuss the ground and attendances being too small for Super League, and suggest we should effectively accept our fate and relegate ourselves. But why? Super League *should* be strong enough to make a club with crowds of less than 5,000 and restricted matchday revenue uncompetitive resulting in their relegation. However, the stark reality is that there are not enough big clubs in Super League for this to be the case. The aim has to be to create more 'big' clubs. Not make the smaller clubs even smaller. Catalans have been fantastic for the game as they have created another 'big' club. I'm fully supportive of clubs like Toulouse (and potentially York and Newcastle) overtaking us due to more money, better infrastructure etc. But it is the job of Super League and The RFL, along with these clubs, to make that happen. Whether that be through the re-introduction of licencing, relegation exemptions or another method. Salford moving to a stadium where we will have greater financial & commercial control as well as investing sustainably in the player pathway programme I have mentioned previously in this thread is not the cause of Super League's problems. The fact that we can now do this after being so poorly ran for over a decade is a symptom of how fragile, unambitious and lacking in strategy the game is. Gary Hetherington has made the same point today. The sooner we focus on building more 'big' clubs over kicking the smaller clubs, the sooner Super League will begin to resemble its name.

As a fellow fan put it so eloquently on Tuesday: "You can right off if you think I'm going to watch us at City's ground". Agree or disagree with the sentiment all you like but, when there is a large mutual support between MUFC and Salford, it is a non-starter.

Did Stuart Littler rob your lunch money as a kid or something?

Thanks, I appreciate it. My issue is when people try and use things like this as a stick to beat Salford with such is their desperation to attack clubs like us. Criticise our crowds. Criticise our poor performances on the pitch. Criticise the Koukash era. We're a long way away from where we should and need to be. Just don't try and manufacture contrived arguments over things which are positive and promising.

It's a matter of pedantry. Unless we were planning on having an open top bus parade to celebrate the official copies of title stating Salford Red Devils as possessing the freehold then the practical and commercial implications of a having a long-lease instead are nil.

Our university partnerships and player pathway scheme were discussed in depth tonight: We have an existing partnership with Salford University and are also working with UoM and Manchester Met 3 players who have graduated from our partnership with Wales Rugby League and will be playing in our reserves this upcoming season are to begin scholarships with UCLAN managed around their rugby. Our new reserves coach works at UCLAN and is developing this relationship further. We now have 3 player pathway partnership: Wales RL, Ipswich Jets & Ghana RL. The latter is longer-term but the aim is to bring players from all 3 into our player pathway and provide opportunities for them to study with Eccles College/UCLAN/Salford Uni and develop into potential Super League players. We now have 84 partner schools in GM, the vast majority having not played rugby league before We are working on pathways for ethnic minorities similar to the RFL's Tackle It Academy We have just launched the REDS programme for 14-17 year olds identified as having potential to come and train with the club with the potential of entering our pathway. I get it's fashionable to clobber Salford for holding the sport back (understandably so given our recent history) but the present and future look very encouraging so long as the stadium issue is resolved.

I have no idea what wider point you're trying to make here but the differences between long-term leasehold and freehold are immaterial in this context. What matters is who has effective control over the assets of the property. That would be Salford.

Effectively yes as it would be a long term leasehold (as Salford City have now) between 21 and 100 years with full control over the stadium's commerciality.

It is effectively Moor Lane or nothing. The good news: due diligence suggests it is a feasible solution The club are meeting with architects/builders imminently to discuss the possibility of expanding the capacity to 6.5k/8k (we can build up, just not out) We would have full commercial control over the stadium in terms of corporate hospitality & executive boxes (yes, they exist), sponsorship (good news considering our commercial revenue has doubled since February) and food & beverage Obstacles remaining: Cost of expanding the stadium (all depends what quotes we are given) Training base & HQ Car parking (park & ride logistics already thought through and other local parking solutions are being discussed with the relevant parties)

Precisely my worry.

It is name checked in the press releases. Obviously it has not been built yet and still appears to be seeking the required funding. That is the whole point of asking these questions. It is Eric Perez and the RFL's job to do the due diligence/business plan, not mine.

Transparency is going to be key if this is to get the buy in from fellow League 1 clubs/ the wider rugby league community. Is an agreement in place for the club to move into Stadium for Cornwall upon its completion? What is the club's plans for grassroots and junior rugby league in the region? What discussions have taken place with key regional stakeholders (Cornish Pirates, Cornwall Council, Exeter Uni etc)? What is the strategy for player recruitment? Local union players, existing League 1 players, mixture of both? I'd love this to work but, for it to, the RFL must have done their due diligence and be able to present a business case to more sceptical members.

I largely agree but the other stadia aren't a negotiating tactic, Paul King himself has called them a 'last resort'. That doesn't mean they are unviable, but obviously the Salford Red Devils playing out of East Manchester is not preferable. Of course economically we have no leverage, but politically we do. Gary Neville isn't going to want to be the local(ish) lad who shafted a community club, especially if he is considering running for GM Mayor in 2024. It wouldn't do much good for Paul Dennett's socialist credentials either... Money talks at the end of the day but we do have levers we can pull to try and get the best result possible.

Nope. Other stadia have been mentioned (I think the Etihad Campus was one) but that would require a relocation to Manchester and is clearly not the preferred option. I agree with your previous post that this is likely a negotiating tactic though. The current board have earnt the right to be trusted based on their track record so I'll reserve judgement on anything until there are some material developments.

We'll find out more at the fans forum but I trust the current board to get the right deal and make the right decision. Whether that be Moor Lane or elsewhere. I get other fans will have their tuppence but we are moving (slowly) in the right direction as a club.