You are the idiot.

Ignoring all the insults traded between some of the contributors to this thread, does anyone know what practical help Salford fans need to help their club survive? Our club benefited from a tremendous show of goodwill from the vast majority of RL fans -- there's no reason why that same support shouldn't be offered to the Reds.
And in terms of a permanent solution,if the RFL could offer to make a bid for our club, why not step into the council's shoes and form a partnership with Peel Holdings as Martin Sadler has suggested. Perhaps the other 12 clubs who have secured an increase in their Sky funding could start the ball rolling by donating that money back to save the Reds?

This is a very fair point. From what I recall there were several clubs that donated ticket proceeds to the Bulls, gaining great kudos in the process. Their gestures start to look slightly less altruistic seeing that they've since recouped the cash by divvying up TV money that would otherwise have gone to the Bulls.

I think the general perception is that the RFL agreed the bid for the Bulls because they realised the admin and the shareholding was a stumbling block to a genuine bid but there was never any intention of any long term holding of the ownership. Whether that applies to the Salford situation, I don't know, but if it does then maybe the same solution is appropriate - if not, it probably isn't.

What we should remember though is that doing exactly the same for each case isn't necessarily the [iright[/i thing to do. The RFL definitely should, and I'm sure will, do their best for the Reds but the best thing for the Reds situation might not be what turned out to be the best thing for us.

Absolutely fair point--each situation is different. However there are already some worrying similarities with our summer saga, not least the way the players and fans are being kept in the dark. What the Salford fans/players need is a clear statement from the RFL that they are on top of the situation and are working to produce a solution-- however different that might be from ours. I just hope the top brass have learned some lessons.

I guess that somethings are going to be common to most of these situations, one is that there must be some lack of business sense involved, even if there [iare[/i calls for desperate measures for desperate times...

Second there will always be a tendency to keep cards close to the chest, and I accept that much of this is pretty inevitable either to retain business confidence and/or prevent rivals from knowing he true situation - if your suppliers lose confidence in your ability to trade then you can kiss your business goodbye. Sadly, it's impossible to inform fans without simultaneously telling the world.

I guess any statement from the RFL would have to take into account what the Reds' management are saying, if the RFL come out and say, "we're standing right behind the club, ready to help", when the club are saying, in effect, "problem, what problem"? (as they appear to be doing) then it may be construed as undermining the board - so damned if they do and damned if they don't, to be honest.

That said, as you say, let's hope they put into practice all they learned and bring it to a successful conclusion.

This problem of clubs going bust will not stop until the RFL apply strict, financially sound tests on all the financial reports submitted by the franshisees prior to the granting the franshises. This will not happen until the next round of bids. In the mean time the RFL are like rabbits in headlights and as for learning - did you see that pig fly past.

The Bulls bid was in the top 3 soundest bids submitted, they went bust within 18 months. Most clubs are in a parlous state, if the RFL wanted 100% guarantee on viability we would have a SL of 6 clubs. Virtually every post you write slags of the RFL, I am yet to see a sensible solution to the financial crises most sports clubs, not just RL, find themselves in.

What on earth are you talking about? How can you apply a "strict test" to a plan for FUTURE business? What do you want the RFL to do - appoint a feckin clairvoyant?

Each Government of the Day has appointed a Clairvoyant they're called the Chancellor of the Exchequer and it doesn't work!

rlSean Long linked with Bullsrl

Now Sean Long is being linked with our club as the uncertainty around the Reds continues. Hopefully the dealings are honest and upfront with Salford as with the Sidlow deal.

So [ithat's[/i how we're going to cover scrum half when Luke Gale is injured

Well, we're not Huddersfield. Besides which, it seems that Salford have said to it's staff and players if they get an offer of secured work that they should take it with the club's blessing.

May be the RL could buy up their ground.

This would free up some money, and ease their short term cash flow problem. ?

( just an idea ! )

Salford RFL, ; unfortunatley for them are NOT too big to fail !