Jump to content

Salford to move to Moor Lane?


Recommended Posts


Salford  -  even with a team of all-stars of some of the best players in the game under Brian Snape- have never averaged 8 - 9,000 at The Willows so when Ray Cashmere tries to explain the reasons for their plight and for moving out of the AJ Bell to a smaller ground he is told "the club must try harder."  If A Grand Final and a Cup Final appearance in the last two years can't encourage people to watch the Red Devils what can they do to "try harder?"

  • Like 4
Link to comment
Share on other sites

1 hour ago, Rowan said:

Salford  -  even with a team of all-stars of some of the best players in the game under Brian Snape- have never averaged 8 - 9,000 at The Willows so when Ray Cashmere tries to explain the reasons for their plight and for moving out of the AJ Bell to a smaller ground he is told "the club must try harder."  If A Grand Final and a Cup Final appearance in the last two years can't encourage people to watch the Red Devils what can they do to "try harder?"

Well Ray himself highlighted that the move was a car crash and fan engagement non-existent, so there is an example where the club should have done better. 

There will be far more examples, and that can't just be airbrushed out of history now because there are new owners. 

What the last couple of years is a good example of is that just playing some good rugby isn't going to pack them in.

I do have some sympathy with the bad luck of the last couple of years though, they made the Grand Final and then the next season we hit the pandemic and they played at Wembley with no fans - so that has hardly allowed them to really capitalise on the recent finals. That is real bad luck. 

  • Like 5
Link to comment
Share on other sites

1 hour ago, Rowan said:

Salford  -  even with a team of all-stars of some of the best players in the game under Brian Snape- have never averaged 8 - 9,000 at The Willows so when Ray Cashmere tries to explain the reasons for their plight and for moving out of the AJ Bell to a smaller ground he is told "the club must try harder."  If A Grand Final and a Cup Final appearance in the last two years can't encourage people to watch the Red Devils what can they do to "try harder?"

Salford attendances under Snape were pretty much par for the course at the time. However since then their attendances have shrunk whilst others have grown.

I do have sympathy for Salford when it comes to them recently getting to to 2 major finals when they have. On the back of getting to the Grand Final Covid followed the start of the next season and then they get to the Challenge Cup final and its played behind closed doors. They simply did not get the chance to build and capitalise on these events.

  • Like 3
Link to comment
Share on other sites

14 hours ago, Davo5 said:

Well with 8-9 K attendances they might have been able to keep up with their rent & wouldn’t be facing eviction.

The stadium company is currently circa £30m in debt, how would an extra 200k per season for the last 10 years have prevented that level of debt? regardless how you want to wash it up any club who rents a stadium runs this risk, wealthier club comes in and instead of buying the stadium is actually purchasing the stadium company including all of its assets allowing the lease agreement to be amended to suit. 

  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

1 hour ago, Whippet13 said:

Surprised there isnt an option for all 3 clubs to play at the AJ. SRD have only 13 home games plus cup and any (unlikely tbf) playoff games and the stadium is surely empty for 4 months over the summer.

Salford City would be looking at roughly 30 home games (on a tuesday/saturday basis) including various cups. Sale with european games (and you'd assume as owners some youth games) probably not far off 45/50 games a season.

Plus they'd want tenants with a good credit score...

Edited by Tommygilf
  • Haha 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Sorry but this stadium should be a no go for a Super League side. İt May be ok for lower levels but it is a dump with very little capacity. This reinforces Super League as a dinky competition not a serious professional top tier one. 

This stadium should not even come into the equation unless they volunteer to move down to championship or lower.

  • Haha 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

7 minutes ago, Izmir Zaferi said:

Sorry but this stadium should be a no go for a Super League side. İt May be ok for lower levels but it is a dump with very little capacity. This reinforces Super League as a dinky competition not a serious professional top tier one. 

This stadium should not even come into the equation unless they volunteer to move down to championship or lower.

It is not a dump. You and other may, quite rightly, see it as too small etc but is not a dump. It is a neat and (very) compact stadium that can create a good atmosphere when full.

The issue of stadium and what is good enough standard is an emotive and personal one.

Castleford is a dump. A total dump. But is also has a great feel to it and is the perfect size. Huddersfield is a fine stadium but it is way way too big and has no atmosphere and looks grim on TV.

As ever it’s a balance and not many clubs have the perfect size stadium for their needs and level.

  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

4 minutes ago, theswanmcr said:

It is not a dump. You and other may, quite rightly, see it as too small etc but is not a dump. It is a neat and (very) compact stadium that can create a good atmosphere when full.

The issue of stadium and what is good enough standard is an emotive and personal one.

Castleford is a dump. A total dump. But is also has a great feel to it and is the perfect size. Huddersfield is a fine stadium but it is way way too big and has no atmosphere and looks grim on TV.

As ever it’s a balance and not many clubs have the perfect size stadium for their needs and level.

lets also not forget that the club have said that this move it it happens has to satisfy them, it may well be that the move is temporary for a couple of years to consolidate take stock and grow, the Commercial side of the club is growing massively and they are looking at growing commercial revenue 4 times what it has been for the last few years. 

lets wait and see what is said at the Fans Forum on the 4th before the salford bashing continues

  • Like 4
Link to comment
Share on other sites

8 minutes ago, To Be Confirmed said:

lets also not forget that the club have said that this move it it happens has to satisfy them, it may well be that the move is temporary for a couple of years to consolidate take stock and grow, the Commercial side of the club is growing massively and they are looking at growing commercial revenue 4 times what it has been for the last few years. 

lets wait and see what is said at the Fans Forum on the 4th before the salford bashing continues

Temporary makes absolutely no sense and you are making it sound like Salford have a choice in what happens thereafter. Unless they build a new stadium they are stuck there. I certainly don't think that either Sale or Salford City would be interested in them ever coming back to the AJ Bell.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Couple of points.

Elsewhere I have called this an example on how not to plan, build a stadium. A complete #### up on all sides, which today's leadership are having to pick up.

Nothing is yet agreed. Proper due diligence is being conducted on any sale or move, which very much reflects the professionalism of Salford City Mayor Paul Dennant in contrast with those in charge of the council when the AJ Bell was first built.

Where are the RFL in this? Surely they should have an opinion? 

The expectation is SRD moves to Moor Lane. If RL was full of happy, shinny people then we might see this as a move to boost a SL club's revenue streams towards further stability. Alongside no debt and anticipated doubling of club sales/advertising before moving.

The site is the same size as Castleford and Wakefield. The potential to even marginally improve it is there. Just as there is in west Yorkshire. All three could have great facilities and a tremendous atmosphere. 

Now there is a SRD supporters meeting on the 4 November. We will hear more facts than opinions then.

Edited by idrewthehaggis
  • Thanks 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

22 hours ago, Davo5 said:

Well with 8-9 K attendances they might have been able to keep up with their rent & wouldn’t be facing eviction.

You can't be evicted from a premises you are no longer contracted to reside in; as will be the case in 2023 which is the date all parties seem to agree will be the date Sale/Salford City complete & we vacate...

 

22 hours ago, Davo5 said:

What makes you think Salford’s attendances will increase by moving to  a tiny,stadium with poor facilities ?

Its size will hardly improve the TV product no matter how many are in attendance,it will still look like an amateur ground hardly befitting the top level of RL in the Northern hemisphere.

Moor Lane is in a better geographical location within the Salford area than the AJ Bell in terms of historical fanbase. Moor Lane may give us the opportunity to create and retain matchday revenue outside of ticket sales which AJ Bell does not. I believe the matchday experience will be better as well on account of it not being a soulless identikit stadium that smells of sewerage.

That does not mean it is an aspirational move nor is it a magic bullet for attendances. It is the clubs responsibility (and Salford's more fairweather fans) to increase attendances. Various owners have failed to realise the corporate and commercial potential of playing at the AJ Bell in terms of proximity to Trafford Park, MediaCity & Manchester City Centre. This will undoubtedly be harder at Moor Lane. However, it is a sector the whole sport fails to successfully engage with. 

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

21 hours ago, Rowan said:

Salford  -  even with a team of all-stars of some of the best players in the game under Brian Snape- have never averaged 8 - 9,000 at The Willows so when Ray Cashmere tries to explain the reasons for their plight and for moving out of the AJ Bell to a smaller ground he is told "the club must try harder."  If A Grand Final and a Cup Final appearance in the last two years can't encourage people to watch the Red Devils what can they do to "try harder?"

I largely agree with that. Personally, I think the club's current directors are doing a good job of slowly and sustainably building the club back up from what was a pretty dire situation following Koukash. This isn't a quick fix and it may not be a fix at all in terms of retaining SL status as we have no divine right to stay in SL with our crowds as they are. 

The pandemic couldn't have come at a worse time in terms of building momentum from the Grand Final and Challenge Cup Final but we can't use that as an excuse not to raise our attendances. 

Our crowds are incredibly frustrating when you consider the size and economic growth of both Manchester and Salford. I do believe Salford could/should be important to a growing Super League in this sense but it is up to the club to fulfil that potential. If we don't, we can't expect to continue punching above our weight in Super League as TO, York, Newcastle etc look to take our place.

  • Like 6
Link to comment
Share on other sites

43 minutes ago, GUBRATS said:

Just an idea , given Moor lane is north of Salford , would it be viable for Swinton to share ?

Moor Lane is less than half a mile away from the Swinton border .Salford council are quite keen on Swinton using the facility.My understanding is that Swinton would want the same deal as Salford are offered and a better deal than what they are currently receiving at Sale FC.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

We have placed cookies on your device to help make this website better. You can adjust your cookie settings, otherwise we'll assume you're okay to continue.