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.

Good post Karlos.

I wish Salford had the same outlook and there's no reason why we can't. It really does put our hierachy to shame.

Sale will have the advantage of RFU backing though as they are desperate to have a major club in the north. Will be interesting to see if the RFL will give any similar backing to Salford in what is seen as an iconic stadium location. I don't think Salford realise how important the first few months are at the new stadium for us though. Good chance for us to build a solid base before Sale move in, yet the season starts in 4 weeks and tickets for the first game are still not on sale.

Yeah i suppose they do have the backing of the RFU, a bit like "London whatever their name is" in our code.

Going back to your point regarding Sale name change. If Sale did and was successful, would Salford go down the same route. This is nailed on i reckon, if we don't improve our attendance's.

Could see it maybe becoming an option when the new franchises are handed out if any of the following happen:

Little or no improvement in performances/crowds.
Wilky steps down.
The RFL want a successful 'Manchester' club in response to the growth of Sale/RU in the north west.

Hard to say really. Hopefully we will make a success of it as Salford and non of it will become relevant.

Quote: advanced negotiations "PREMIERSHIP rugby club Sale Sharks yesterday appointed Steve Diamond as its new chief executive and said it is in "advanced negotiations" over a potential move to the new Salford Stadium at Barton. The club held a press conference yesterday at which co-owner Ian Blackhurst said that negotiations about a move were ongoing, adding that an announcement could be made "within four to six weeks". "There's been a lot of speculation and coverage about the stadium near Barton Bridge - a fabulous facility - and we are in negotiations, but it has to be commercially right," said Blackhurst.'" www.thebusinessdesk.com/northwes ... -move.html I like the way Blackhurst can't bring himself to actually say the word "Salford". "Welcome to the Near Barton Bridge Stadium".

Quote: advanced negotiations "PREMIERSHIP rugby club Sale Sharks yesterday appointed Steve Diamond as its new chief executive and said it is in "advanced negotiations" over a potential move to the new Salford Stadium at Barton. The club held a press conference yesterday at which co-owner Ian Blackhurst said that negotiations about a move were ongoing, adding that an announcement could be made "within four to six weeks". "There's been a lot of speculation and coverage about the stadium near Barton Bridge - a fabulous facility - and we are in negotiations, but it has to be commercially right," said Blackhurst.'" www.thebusinessdesk.com/northwes ... -move.html I like the way Blackhurst can't bring himself to actually say the word "Salford". "Welcome to the Near Barton Bridge Stadium".

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