SALFORD RLFC will not be subject to a points deduction for this year’s Championship competition, the RFL has decided.

Despite the governing body having the discretion to apply a deduction of as many as twelve points for an insolvency act, it has decided not to apply one in this case.

And the reason is that the RFL board feels it would be unfair to penalise the new club owners, who have stepped in to try to revive the Salford club, as opposed to the owners who were in charge when the previous company that owned the club, Salford City Reds (2013) Limited, went into liquidation.

“The RFL directors believed it would be unfair to impose such a burden on the new owners, when the problems that led to the liquidation had nothing to do with them,” RFL interim CEO Abi Ekoku told League Express.

“They have therefore decided to allow Salford to begin the new season on zero points, along with every other club.

“And nothing would please us more than to see a great attendance when Salford host Oldham in the opening game of the 2026 Championship season.”

No decision has been made on Featherstone, however, with Ekoku admitting that there are still some issues that have to be dealt with before Rovers can be given the green light to prepare for the new season.

“We recognise that there is little time before the new season begins, but we have to be certain that things are in place to ensure that the club can survive the season,” added Ekoku.

And Ekoku admitted that there is a chance that the club might not be ready to start the season with its Round 1 fixture against Batley Bulldogs on Sunday 18th January.

If that happens, Ekoku is not ruling out the possibility that Featherstone may be able to start the season later, as did Morecambe FC in the current National League football season.

“There are precedents in that regard but I am spending almost every day, other than Christmas Day, on Featherstone and I hope we can reach an acceptable solution to the club’s problems sooner rather than later,” he added.