As coach of the junior team that my son plays in at Eccles I couldn't agree more
Not much actual investment yet. They've lent players to help with training sessions and events at all the clubs in their patch and are building links that were broken during the Tarry era. Supposed to be some funding from the Under Armor sponsorship for local juniors but not seen the detail yet

PS - Eccles Roosters are now called Salford City Roosters following their merger with Irlam Hornets

£5.2m is probably chicken feed in relation to the potential profits to be made from the development of the ship canal in that area.

RE THE SHIP CANAL
Nobody but Peel Holding will benefit from that.
Unless you live in the area, you do not know how powerful that company is.

I'd heard earlier this year that salford had approached a couple of WArrington amateur teams with regard to setting up a working arrangement at junior level.

The 'loss' to Koukash will be used to offset any income elsewhere. Wealthy people can do would always rather lose money in their own enterprise than pay that same cash in taxes. It's only unsustainable if the losses exceed profits from everywhere else.

The reality is that sports teams are almost without exception dreadful financial investments. Many professional sporting teams are propped up by benefactors - in RU as well as RL. What the financial results show is that in reality the economics of Salford (not to mention other clubs) will almost never stack up on a standalone basis. Take away benefactors and both codes would wither.

I agree but there aren't many sports clubs of any sport can continually lose £5m+ per year so obviously that number will have to come down. Most RL benefactors put in tens to a few hundred thousand per year rather than millions.

Unfortunately I can't see Salfords finances drastically changing without a drastic change in the stadium. Either Koukash/Salford to own it outright or virtually own it through very favourable terms from the current owners.

Let's face it, they need 3 times the current income.

They need 3 times the current crowd.
Marwan Koukash regards the club as work in progress. He will get the club where he wants to get it in the end.
Its going to take a bit longer than he originally planned though.

Maybe he will maybe he won't. It'll take more than just determination otherwise London would be SL champions.
It will definitely take a long time, whether it's longer than he originally planned I don't know. I'd sort of hoped all his bluster when he took over at Salford was just for publicity and that he didn't actually believe half of it.
I wish Koukash and Salford all the best but I hope both he and Salford fans realise it will take years and maybe a decade or two.
It took Caddick & Hetherington nearly a decade to get Leeds onto a sustainable, secure footing. And that's a club who had an already significant support, an above average team, a bigger youth pool, and crucially their own stadium.

I would guess at this stage that the Red Devils are about another 5 years from reaching their aim.

I suppose it depends what their aim is, if it's to become an "average" mid-table team, a Hull KR for instance, I'd probably agree that 5 years is about right.
If its to be a regular top 5/6 team, I'd say they've around 10 years.
If it's to become a Wigan or Leeds who are regular top teams AND financially sustainable, then I reckon they've around 15 or so years off. Assuming continual focus and owning or getting a better deal at the stadium.

But then I'm hardly an expert, so what the hey. Good luck Marwan.

I think their aim at the moment is year on year play off positions and see what happens from there.
If any club can continue to get in the play offs year on year it does attract sponsors which eases the financial burden on the good doc.
Saying that though we do know that money is not a problem for the doc.
Trying to become self sufficient must be the aim of every club.

yep you mentioned Hull kR, with the increase of Sl grants this year we will finally be at break even on our current crowds of around 8,000. Salfords number one goal has to be to engage with the community and build its fanbase. Simple reality is they need more paying customers.
Obviously winning helps a lot but it is by no means the only part of the equation. They have a decent stadium, a decent brand and a rich backer so lets hope they can put the final pieces together. No reason it cant be done in 3-5 years if done well. Look at how the Bulls and Wolves brought in the fans in the early days.

I am just wondering what fanbase has been eroded? They never had one to start with.

tl;dr

Marwan found his cash yet?