EB - I don't know enough about local authority law to comment on what you suggest - if it could be done then clearly that could be a way forward. However I suspect the forces against would be calling for scrutiny pretty loudly!!

As I see it, unless around £1/4 million appears in the next two weeks before the winding up hearing that all is lost! The last I heard from Steve McCormick's initiative around £20K has been pledged so about 10% there - Anyone have any updates??

the council have one big problem come next May, it may have 50% of one big white elephant.
no Salford using the ground
no Sale using the ground ( Sale go down, the ground will be to expensive)
only the odd booking
and all that lost money
or
put on one side for a few years the requirement for any money back
help anyone taking over with sponsorship
reduce the ground fees

maybe help Swinton to play at the ground (after all the money put into the City Reds it will be hard for the council to sell the idea of building a ground for them)

Barton - We need to lobby the pro SCR Council members pretty quickly to make them see sense re their existing position. Nothing or a long term equity situation. Can this be galvanised pdq?

Bryan - All your points are totally correct. Swinton should be playing there so too Man U reserves & Sale and the whole charging structure needs a complete overhaul geared to income generated from the various clubs. Its not rocket science - if you have a commercial asset you have to have the returns. We - the SCR fans have to understand that our existing game is over and a new one has to commence at Barton..

Otherwise - as you say - the White Elephant will not be fed and the Council will have to maintain the upkeep costs at enormous further expense to the Rate payers of the City. I don`t think that fact would go down too well at the next Council meeting!

First of all EB,thanks for not telling everybody that i`ve been brain damaged in a car crash and that i hav`nt a clue really,them people say things like that really pi// me off,i respect your comments,but you keep bringing up the council,it cannot happen now,and it really should`nt,would you let the kids of solly go without,would you let the old and infirm go without just to keep Salford in S/L.?As much as i love my club no way on earth would i deny them people.Howard ,i stood beside him back on the terraces with my dad back in the sixties,top man.Co they want away now,would they if it would of worked?

The fear of a white elephant is without doubt our best hope right now. With that in mind, Sale's current precarious position suits us perfectly (although it wouldn't be in our interests for them to go down the tubes altogether as the more tenants the cheaper the overheads).

If we do somehow fluke our way out of this mess we do need to play hardball with the SMC, not only over fees but also over divisive issues such as the shop, the supporters bar etc.

I still happen to think a newco in CC1 is the most likely option though.

MM - I am not suggesting that the Council put more money in.

I want them to alter the terms of their existing loan into a long term equity plan which would ultimately benefit the Children of Salford. If the club goes into Administration or is Liquidated all their loan monies become worthless anyway. The `equity` plan gives them a chance to recoup some revenue.

Personally feel that this `horse` could be a runner if only the Councillors pro the club could push it through. Their stance should be to tell the opposition that if we (SCR) go then they (Council) go. Simple. Time for tough talking I feel.

Totally agree,but who in charge of our club?

If we somehow survive in Super League it'll be down to whoever is daft/benevelonet enough to 'invest' into the current business.

If it's to be a fresh start in CC1, then my preference would be for a fan-owned club operating within its means.

Yeah ,i go along with that,playing where?

A fan owned club operating within its means?
Brilliant statement but wtf would it mean in practice?

Not being party to a crippling set of terms and conditions for a start.

Not spending more cash than you actually generate is always a good way to live within your means too.

Well it can be done - certainly in SL -its all a question of operating within percentages. Take 25% off all income and place elsewhere in a safe deposit situation. Operate the Budget on the remaining 75% and.......................hey presto not only would we survive - we would prosper without any outside help. Sure results would reflect the situation for the first couple of years but this could be the time to bring a virtually all GB squad to a Super League team. If we have faith in the Coaching set up then its the way to go.

RFL is full of clubs over spending and until reality hits the game it will never prosper so lets stake the claim to show them the way.

Sounds lovely in principle but how long before our loyal fans start moaning about the quality of the squad etc? After the first season? The first month? The first game?

Look at how pretty much all of us hit the roof when Matty Smith was sold to balance the books.

The truth is, if you can't spend something in the region of a full salary cap there's little point being in Super League other than to fill the role of whipping boy/feeder club.

A new ground was built for Darlington,they are no longer in the league,and they pulled the new ground down.

I dont agree with you WF. Maybe at last clubs are coming to terms with financial reality. Wakey hit the Play offs with a squad built with minimum cash. Secondly other clubs - reliant on one person - Hull KR/London/Huddersfield etc will very soon be in a similar situation to ourselves.

The big 5 will stay that way and win everything in sight. So be it. Let them get on with it.

Unless clubs start making PROFITS there is no future for 90% of them.