Salford Red Devils owner Marwan Koukash has confirmed that Australian national coach Tim Sheens will take up an offer to become the club’s Director of Rugby, after having spent several weeks at the club earlier in the year.
But he added that the job of current Salford coach Iestyn Harris is “absolutely safe”, while no job offer has been made to Bobbie Goulding. Whether an offer is made will depend on Sheens and Harris.
Speaking at a media conference this morning, with Salford supporters also in attendance, Koukash has revealed that former fullback Kevin Locke, whose resignation the club accepted last week, is pursuing a claim for £52,000, but that the Red Devils are pursuing a counter-claim against him.
And the club admitted it is facing legal action from its player Tony Puletua, who is currently on loan at Hull Kingston Rovers, although it is taking legal action against him for comments published in the media.
Koukash has also insisted that the club is not behind with its payment of player salaries.
“We always pay the players and we pay them in full,” he said.
Koukash also claimed that Salford Council, the joint owner’s of the AJ Bell Stadium, owe the club £800,000, and that it will cost him £500,000 to stay at the stadium in 2016 unless a new agreement can be put in place.
The Salford owner admitted that he is still interested in NRL club but first needs to repair his reputation from the allegations of not paying players
He claimed that the Red Devils’ current debts amount to £150,000, and added, “We’re in a healthy position compared to other clubs,” while also adding, “My wife is here and she would f***ing kill me if she knew how much I invested in the club.”
Koukash did not reveal the names of the club’s potential player targets for next season.
