Attending the meeting at Isis last Thursday showed that a large number of people came forward at short notice to hopefully keep the Salford City Reds going.

This group of people had different views on how we had arrived at the position that we are faced with but each person then,in my opinion,listened carefully, asked valid questions in a very positive inquiring manner, came up with suggestions and alternatives about what to do and several people donated money there and then, others have clearly donated since and more will come in I am sure.

Several people,including some who may not have been at the meeting have set out to help the club in whatever way that they can by organizing events etc to help assist the club which coupled up with the ideas put forward on the night will go a long way to raising the funding required to not just raise money but to prove to any possible investors that some people do care about the club passionately.

The point that I am making is that a couple of people appear to be very unhappy over the fact that anybody who is willing to help the club and have resorted to making comments that I feel make them look a pathetic duo who clearly have an agenda of their own making that in one case was the result of something that occurred in late August early September of this year.

The personal abuse being levelled at the Chair of Forever Reds and its board is unfair,unwarranted and in my opinion a cheap and nasty shot by an equally nasty person and as the players are behind the Forever Reds efforts this proves to myself that PYP & MM should be disregarded as being just a pair of stirrers who must clearly like reading their own posts.

An admirable post, Bill, and I fear that not many will take you up on the offer as they frequently have little to discuss accept the same old stuff. I've tried to stay away from a few of these threads at the moment as I become even more downhearted that some people question the likes of Shirley who does outstanding service to fans and Club.

Couldn't agree more.

What people say on the internet, hidden by the protective mask of an avatar is something I'm researching at the moment.
The 'virtual self' enables those that in the "real" world typically lack a voice worth listening to or any kind of social standing, to be someone they just aren't. Angry people who are liberated from the constraints of daily life by the anonymous medium of cyberspace. Disinhibited by the social rules of face-to-face interaction, they can express offensive and hateful remarks at strangers.

In complete agreement with Bill, a discussion cannot be held with views that aren't supported by the disclosure of one's idnetity. Of course, if the mask, the anonymous safety blanket is removed, a modicum of respectability is warranted.

For the record, yes, I know Bill and Shirley. Over the past decade or so, nothing more than a brief chat or hello at away games but neverthless, I know them to be passionate Salfordians of the highest order. People who command and deserve respect from all Salford fans for their tireless efforts, often at great personal cost. I for one am glad to have this small association with them and I encourage all readers to join me in thanking them for their continued support of the club we all love.

Thanks guys!

Oh btw, if you don't already know I'm Gavin Cottrell. Feel free to call me Gav. I'm unlikely to indulge in a debate with irate contributions so don't be surprised if I ignore angry responses directed at me in this or any other debate on this forum.

Maybe PYB might consider taking Theo in himself then if he doubts Shirls ability and the morality of what she's doing.

No? I thought not.

I would like to donate to the SOS fund but there is one huge thing holding me back.
If the funds raised are to be used for the formation of a new club then great I am all for it.
If it is just to pay for the wages of an Aussie and Kiwi waste of time who were employed on obvious ridiculous terms by our inept chairman then no.
I will support Salford in whatever league they are in, but helping out someone who has ruined our great club then that is pushing it too far.
I do not have an agenda or any petty vendettas and appreciate all the hard work FR are putting in.
My name is Peter O' Keefe BTW and I live in Prestwich if anyone does want to discuss things face to face.

It would be entirely reasonable that anybody taking in a lodger should be paid for so doing. The terms of payment have nothing to do with anybody else but the parties involved. But that does not make the person providing the lodgings an employee any more than it makes the kit supplier an employee.

Irrespective of that, what gives anybody on this forum the right to question the integrity of the FR chair?

The fans, I'm afraid, are between a rock and a hard place. It would seem that any funds provided to the existing set up may just be sending good money after bad, particularly if it is used to pay money to an ex player who, under any normal contract conditions, would be in breach of contract!

This pretty much sums up my own thoughts regarding making a donation at this time, buying into a newco would be a different kettle of fish though.

The issue on Patten and Anderson is that they are legally owed that money and if it isn't paid then that could well be the end of SCR. So regardless of what anyone thinks if their ability and effort in a Reds shirt there is little option but to pay them.

Barton - I`m not sure here re Patten. His contract was for 3 years and he has walked out after just 2. So there may well be an angle for an adjournment.

As for Anderson surely we could be looking to do a deal maybe - another 12 month contract on a play as you play basis with the previous contract being rolled in.

Just feel that jaw jaw is better than war war.

I just dont know the arrangement with HMRC or whether they are definitely on the Petition.

Well you can extend that to people who, totally out of character, shout and scream at players and referees at matches. And I think most of us have done that at some point to be fair. What I would add is the web isn't the wild west environment of old. Today, when you make named, personal insults on here, it leaves yourself and this forum open to litigation.



The vibe I got from Thursday's meeting was to try and clear the petition and take it from there. (The fans won't be able to raise much more than that anyway, if we're being honest.) It would mean the club can trade while the RFL liases with its interested parties to buy the club in January. Very sketchy on the details but the RFL's COO Ralph Rimmer said as much to Paul Highton and the lads. The rest of the money appears to be liabilities that can be spread over a period of time or working capital - I can't recall with any certainty but that's the impression I got.

The most encouraging revelation was in regards to the 'robust' business plan, which could show a profit on modest crowds (based on the paying numbers from last season?). 'Robust' meaning cutting our cloth accordingly. And why John didn't disclose this fully on the 17th, I don't know. It would have saved a week's worth of despair.

Not that achieving last year's figures will be a cakewalk but the 8,000 nonsense was pie in the sky and it would have been futile continuing on that premise.