Hang on - how is this the RFL's fault? They could have communicated more frequently about it, but otherwise what would you have done differently?


Can't but feel frustrated when fans point the finger straight at the governing body instead of the club's previous and current administrators, the player agents, or even just seeing the fact that a professional rugby league team in Salford isn't financially viable. 


Salford will get the rest of their TV payment like all the other clubs, and hopefully that's enough to help them finish 27 rounds. Then IMG's financial requirements will see them out of super league - that's why this system was introduced. Bear in mind they almost got the heave ho last year. 


Hopefully rebuild outside the top tier, like we did and like London are having to. I'm sad for their fans, but it's for the benefit of the league.

Yep. Couldn't agree more.
Definitely not the RFLs fault.


I wonder if it will encourage or discourage the Aussie team idea to buy then.

Aussie reporting seems to have a lower bar for facts, because all we really know is the Roosters chairman, Nick Politis, made a comment to Peter V'Landys that he likes the idea of NRL buying a stake in SL, and he'd look at investing in a club if it all happens. He didn't specify Salford, London or York as reported - that's just speculation because those clubs could do with a boost. What's for sure is that Roosters wouldn't get involved until the NRL have secured their stake, which could take years, right? So I don't think that's on the table any time soon. 

If they were desperate enough to get a random Swiss banker involved on a false promise, along with their assistant coach's mate from back home, and beg their former CEO to pay players out of his bank account, then they really don't have a hope of a Matt Ellis coming in. That would have happened by now.


Now Salford Council own the stadium outright, it probably means any incarnation of Salford RL can play out of it, which is great. It's looking like that might have to be a part-time phoenix club restarting in League One with a new funding structure, new players, and 1,500 fans daydreaming of 2019.

Said before a ball was kicked that Salford should be removed from SL and all teams given bye rounds 
Their results have compromised the league table and made a mockery of the competition!


It’s been coming for 5 or 6 years 

Feel sorry for the Salford fans but those running  the club for tbe past few years are not fit to do so.
The club is a disgrace to RL and they should be kicked out of SL.
If that means their permanent demise then so be it they've stuck two fingers up to Authority and doing thi gs right for years.

If they go under I think they'll find it hard to even come back in League 1 form.


At the end of the day it just needs investment but with the current setup it seems a long long way off.

You’re right, but I don’t think the current setup can last. There are some great clubs in League One and Championship that run on sponsors, ticket sales, merch and hospitality alone.


Through Salford, London and even the Trin to an extent, it’s been proven that unless you have a rich backer like us, Wigan, Hull, Leeds, KR, Catalans, Saints, Warrington, Huddersfield (for now), and Leigh, you can’t survive in super league. 
But clubs in the lower leagues absolutely can. Salford probably have to return to that unless/until a rich backer comes in - but if there was a willing party, I think that would’ve happened by now.


Toulouse will be an easy swap for Salford in 2026. Then we’ll see if Bradford, London and York can grow enough (because that’s what this is really about) for 27/28/29.

I'm not sure it will happen like that for Salford.
When its a sudden drop you keep going because the fans walk away and it's hard to get them back.


When Wakefield went down we had an extra boost to drag the fans along.
Similar when Cas went down.


I think if we'd lost the first million pound game it would have taken years to get back.


Salford will be left with the very core of the core if they go down to League 1.


I agree you'd think Toulouse are the most likely but Bradford is the real forgotten golden egg.
Hopefully if they see a possible route they'll drag investment in too.

I know what you mean. But I do think their academy, local talent, a bit more money than the likes of Workington and Swinton via sponsors and gameday would get them out of League One after a couple of years. I do think their core is about 1,500 fans who are mad for it. I’m definitely not saying they’ll get a rich benefactor - there’s obviously no one willing. 


I’d be all for Bradford if they sorted some key things out. But that’s why I quite like IMG - it’s not perfect but it does help determine which clubs are strongest across the board. In an ideal world you’d trim Super League to just the Grade A clubs, and make the almost-theres earn it through improving their ground, building attendances, bringing in more sponsors. A few clubs are in that bracket - Toulouse, Bradford, York, London - but they’re not quite there in a few respects, and I don’t think RFL need to replace one struggling club with another with a ramshackle ground, poor attendances, not enough money to compete etc. As soon as they do that, bring them up one by one and expand it again.


But, of course, there’s a broadcasting deal to negotiate, and that’s going to be a bit more difficult with 10 or 11 teams.

I think that was always the plan. There just wasn't enough As.
Even now we and Cas are close to the edge. 
We could easily drop out of the As.

Interesting you say Toulouse would be a easy swap for Salford Mr Ellis did say he  did not want 2 French teams in  S L  Do not bring enough to the game as in have no away support along with other things

It's not like Salford bring loads