lol as if rugby union cares about that

Northampton will have no fans and either mooch around the lower divisions for a while or get fast tracked into Super League and go bust after a couple of seasons.

Bristol and Ireland's world cup games won't even make the local papers, there will be fewer fans there than for a National League RL game.

As for Sale's 'northern revolution' the basic problem is Premiership RU is not exciting enough. I agree with them that the north is a big market for RU in terms of it being played in schools and universities, and there are lots of northern RU fans that will follow England RU, but getting them excited about club RU is another matter. In club RL there is a long standing history and rivalry between clubs and people identify with clubs in the way football do, but that doesn't exist in RU. I know loads of people from uni and work that are union fans more than league fans, but if you ask them who they support they say "I don't really follow a club I just support England", you never hear a league fan say that ever.

I predict lots of hot air from Sale.

Sale is predominant in south Manchester already but it is based on local clubs as much as anything. There is a mental pyramid structure in place regional club and so support them.

Sale will want to build on the work done by Salford's Foundation; just as we would work on what they had done if we were moving into (say) the Heatons.

Once this juggernaut starts, we will be pushed to one side: so the best tactic would be to get into the local clubs and schools NOW at even a higher level than the moment - this costs time and money so perhaps ForeverReds may look to see wjhat they can do?

Would be great if Forever Reds could do something but with only a few members and the majority of Salford fans not being bothered to support FR we also have a very limited amount of funding and it is the same twenty or so people who are always putting money in. Salford is the apathy capital of Great Britain.

Bigpev: It would be good to see the rugby league & the Salford board show some positive marketing of the area & the club, Went for tickets on Saturday for the Leigh game, still no shop! If we cannot sell the basics of running a rugby club in marketing, what chance do we have of taking Sale RU Club!!!

Sale are talking of 'seizing Manchester and the North West' and you're talking of learning from them.

The relegation of Leeds RU was a good step, hopefully Newcastle will go down as well just leaving Sale in the north - leaving Union firmly regionalised in the south.

It'll be interesting to see what this announcement consists of. It might be something really radical like Sale plan to build their own ground in the area from which they derive their name.

[iSale boss Steve Diamond is to assume even greater power at Edgeley Park by taking on an enhanced role within the club.

The Sharks were today unveiling a vision for the future with their current executive director of sport due to announce ‘major changes to the structure of the club and playing staff while outlining his plans for the future.’

And as part of that new look, the 42-year-old – who has totally revived Sale’s fortunes since his return to Cheshire 11 months ago – is set to assume the role of chief executive of the resurgent Premiership club with current incumbent Mick Hogan last night announcing his departure for a post within the RFU’s Rugby World Cup 2015 set-up.

Key to Diamond’s enhanced new role at the helm of Sale will be training a sharp focus on the drive to further increase the club’s supporter base and boost their commercial clout.

And it’s believed Diamond, who has a myriad of contacts that straddle the worlds of both business and rugby, will also seek to use his new elevated position to help further spread the Sale gospel both near and far.

The former Sale hooker is passionate about establishing the Sharks as a super Northern club, poised to take advantage of their lofty position within the region, given Leeds’ relegation last year and rock-bottom Newcastle’s parlous position this time round.[/i

[i(Extract taken from today's MEN)[/i


Is this the news........?

I'm not overly worried as it stands. Big words for sure, but the reality of selling Club RU, which is incredibly poor both as a spectacle and a decent way to spend your time will hit home. The only benefit it may get is less competition from RU rivals geographically. They have a decent number of die-hard support but I can't see it growing much in the Sport-spoiled North West. We as a Club face that same problem, the difference is that SL is exciting to watch. No amount of money is going to make RU any less boring. Sale might be or become a highly polished turd. But a turd it will be nonetheless.

Agree totally Butcher.

Sale say a decision on a possible ground move will be made within six weeks.

RU has had nearly 150 years to ' seize Manchester '

, it's a non story , just posturing
RFU has always had an unlimited budget , RFL a very limited one.

Salford, Saints have new stadiums and will hopefully have increased attendances , Warrington & Wigan are resurgent, RFL are holding Magic weekend in Mcr this year , RLWC will be held in lots of NW venues next year , BBC sport have moved to Salford, Media City are Salford's shirt sponsors.

club wise RU are struggling in the north , other than Sale
, Leeds Tykes are relegated , Newcastle are struggling so Sale RU's catchment area is anywhere between Leicester & Newcastle Upon Tyne. Ru have to support sale otherwise effectively Professional top class club rugby Union will be a regional sport .

Warrington - Wigan's - St Helens profile are a bigger threat to Salfords attendances than another sport , as for attracting new supporters , income & Football will always be a bigger threat. All salford have to do is play better and not rip the potential supporters off

The reality is that both RU and RL locally will struggle in Manchester given the obsession with football. 'Nothern' RU as a whole is expressing concerns though - they simply cannot compete financially or in profile terms with the East Mids, London and South West clubs at not just the Premiership level but at various levels down the pyramid. Lot's of nothern RU clubs have slipped down the divisions to the point where there are not many left in the 'national' divisions (Orrell, Waterloo and so on as examples) and many of those still going are feeling squeezed and under pressure...

RL though shouldnt panic at all...in my view, a bit of closer working could be well worthwhile.

RL in general maybe shouldn't worry. But Salford should. Sale are never going to overtake RL in the NW with the likes of Wigan/Wire/Saints around. But they would easily become top dogs at Barton especially with the lure of european rugby if they are in the Heineken Cup. Steve Diamond was on Granada tonight saying Barton gives them a great opportunity to up their capacity to 20000, and they haven't even moved in yet. Add to that RFU funding for marketing etc and they would easily average 10000+. They went from a 3000 capacity stadium to averaging 9000 at Stockport and see this as the next step. Will be interesting to see if they drop the 'Sale' tag and try and market themselves as more of a regional club.