He's certainly passionate that's for sure. It's too early to judge but I certainly think RL is better with Marwan Koukash in it. An interesting decade awaits......

I think he's brilliant I really do, I just hope the people of Salford and Gtr Manchester start to see it and come ouy and support their club or more of the locals are converted to RL.

It's all a bit surreal , A year ago we didn't even know his identity , a total unknown in RL. and we unable to sell a single ticket because our bank account was frozen .
rlhttp://www.itv.com/news/granada/2013-01-08/racehorse-owner-shows-interest-in-struggling-reds/rl

Nearly 40days to go to the 1st fixture and there's angst because we've only allegedly moved 2.5K season passes ... 2500 passes without resorting to wider press or add campaigns to see a team that hasn't played a game together yet , and some people have written off as old mercenaries after a last payday ...,we should be ecstatic .

His main strength is that he comes from a background in racing. Selling racing is not just selling watching horses run but a wider entertainment package with exciting horse racing at the core. Selling Salford will be the same: a wide entertainment package that has an exciting Rugby game at the core. These days we are competing in the entertainment business and offering just a RL game is not enough. I may like it but a family new to the sport?

Too many RL enthusiasts have not embraced this yet: they therefore deride the watering down of the core values they defend. Tough. They are dinosaurs. Society has moved on and other sports have siezed the chances this brings.

An example is RU at Twickenham: it provides bags of money for that sport, makes a huge impact in the media, is hugely successful, and for many the game is only one bit of a wider package of food, drink and other entertainment.

I may have a cloth cap but no whippet, lad.

He's expecting far too much too soon IMO, we've not even played a game yet never mind won one. I fear for the attendance against Saints if Wakefield beat us.

People will come out to watch a winning team that is the fact of the matter, at the moment we don't have a winning team and as it stands we are still the worst team in league (going off last year’s standings). If we have a good season this year people will sit up and take note then next year and future years we will see the benefit.

Exactly. We've made promising signings on paper in the past and things have failed on grass - 2007 anyone? There is definitely a good degree of optimism and positive signs, but there will be plenty whose enthusiasm has been worn down by years of stodge and are waiting to see some proof of improvement.

I think 2500 isn't too bad. It will take time for new fans to commit to a season ticket, but I'm sure a lot of them will start off by coming to the odd game to see what they think. Hopefully if we get off to a flyer, the buzz will be generated.

In one of the first games under Koukash's ownership, we played Hull KR and beat them 38-34 infront of 1,989 people with that figure including a couple of hundred KR fans too. We've already sold 2,500 tickets with no doubt more to come in the forthcoming weeks, which is a vast improvement.

This will only continue to improve if the team fullfill their expectations on the pitch, on paper we have favourable opening fixtures, win these and attendances will improve. As I said earlier, it's all well and good Koukash wanting more ST sales but he's only been involved with Salford RLFC for the last 12 months. The majority of those with an interest in Salford have been around for the last 25 years plus and have been let down time and time again, to the point where they require actions to speak louder than words i.e see a successful team playing well.

Some good posts on here - even from opposition fans.
I looked at the magic screen last night - just for a different perspective.
By chance came across a club where the chairman,during difficult financial times,was a former horse racing jockey,Willlie Carson,who later commentated alongside Clare Balding on the tv.
They used an outside agency,over a 6 months period and managed a 32% increase in season ticket sales.
I think we have surpassed that on the efforts of Dr K alone;in a far shorter timescale.rlStoryrl

I then returned to my usual simmering rage when I read an online billet-doux from the RFL to an outside agency which specializes in 'fan engagement and customer relationship management' and played a part in the recent World Cup and 'encouraging new and lapsed fans'.Not only that,the list of clients includes 3 Super League clubs,two geographically close,and Hull FC.

Were their services offered? Did anyone in the rugby league family help our club by pointing us in their direction?
rl4Sightrl

Looks like we shall have to go it alone.Don't forget to grab your posters !

I for one will be heartened (and surprised) if we have sold 2,500. Thinking back to last season, as stated above, we had less than that on the ground for a fixture. I may be wrong but I don't reckon there were 2500 Salford fans in attendance for a few home games (London, Catalans, Huddersfield, Castleford games all spring to mind), though I may be wrong.

Assuming we have sold that many, and assuming another 1500 locals walk up on the day, plus 1000 from Wakefield and we have a decent (though not spectacular) opening attendance. Win that and beat London, and the stage is set for a gold-plated opportunity to put ourselves in the shop window on Sky against Saints (though it'll probably snow...)

Before reaching for the razor blades and aspirin, we should ask ourselves
1. How accurate is the 2500 figure?
2. How does it compare to other similar clubs?
3. How does it compare to our own sales for last season?

In the case of question 3, I'd guess it is a significant improvement.

So, [iif[/i the 2500 figure is correct, I don't think that's too shabby for a club that's won nothing of any significance since before [iany[/i of our current squad were born. And that's a long time when you consider how old some of our squad are.

[size(Another one for your collection there, Red-Devils-PAW.)[/size

I can understand Marwan's frustrations here to an extent, he's put his heart and soul into re-building this club from an almost irretrievable position in less than 12 months. However, I echo the thoughts of quite a few posters on here that we haven't fired a shot in anger yet so signing lots of marquee players (and some of them undoubtedly are despite what other clubs supporters have been saying here and on the VT) is very likely to not be enough to lure back those who have either been Salford supporters and regulars at the Willows in the past but have become so disenchanted that only a cup semi-final would lure them back or are completely new supporters of the game and choose Salford as their preferred destination. It also won't make them buy a season ticket straight off either, it's too big a gamble for those folk.

Marwan's frustration came through in a twitter exchange I had with him last night (amongst a few others) where I was suggesting exactly that. I pointed out that it (was more than) enough for me to buy a season ticket and I already had but frankly I'd have bought one even if we were still a basket case! I think we already know that Marwan waits for no man but I get the feeling that because he can't control the pace of take up or fathom the reasons why people still don't appear to want to sign up that his natural impatience is playing havoc with him!

I think the club is doing an amazing job in getting the message out about ticket deals, the new look team etc. and creating a real buzz of excitement, we just need to keep that momentum up until the season starts and then as Derek says 2 wins from 2 and some of that activity should convert to repeat sales, after all, that's what Marwan is after and I think, in time, he'll get it.

Roll on 16th February!

We achieved a total attendance of less than 2,500 on 6 occasions last season;

Hull KR – 1,989
London – 2,333
Wakefield – 2,327
Castleford – 2,306
Hull FC – 2,000
Catalan – 2,200

We also only managed only slightly above that v Huddersfield (2,78icon_cool.gif. Therefore, if the 2,500 (to date) season ticket figure is accurate and I see no reason by Marwan Koukash would lie about this then we have almost certainly already guaranteed to improve on every attendance figure we posted in 2013. When you consider the majority of games vs Yorkshire opponents are to be played on Sunday’s this season, you’d expect to see an increase in away support too.

The away take up will improve that's for sure, fans do like a good game and apart from the occasional upset Salford have been a bit of a whipping boy and people can take or leave a game in which they think they'll deliver a drubbing.

The usual lot of Wire/Saints/Wigan will bring fans and should bring a good atmosphere but i can see a few fans being more drawn to this fixture.

I hope Salford are a strong side this season, it's something i wish for every team.

Playing the Yorkshire teams on Sundays was a good decision. I can see a big boost in away support from across the pennines as it allows families the time to make the trip and even make a day of it with the Trafford centre next door. I think if we can gain some momentum on the field it'll have a knock-on effect with both home and away fans.