I have read somewhere that Sale Sharks RU club are in talks with Salford City FC [owned by Class of 92 Man Utd stars] to jointly purchase
A.J.Bell Stadium.
If it happens, reading between the lines, Salord will no longer play at the AJ Bell stadium and could be on their way to a much inferior ground [ i wouldn't call it a Stadium]

That’s all true but I’d say the Peninsula stadium is actually far more suited to Salford’s current needs.

it also shows the 'Holy Grail" of a brand new stadium, might not be actually a Holy Grail...

although I am a little jealous of Salford's recent visit to finals.. would be nice to have some of that!

I think it actually shows that renting a stadium and not having control over the day to day running and income streams is not the way to go.
Hopefully with MC in charge and with the ground and all the income streams under our own control, then our ground redevelopment will be a much better proposition.

Didn't seem to do them much good, though Covid restrictions did take the edge off it so some mitigation.

Indeed, some of my SWAG colleagues see it differently but personally, I think we dodged a bullet with N/M. By some bizarre twists of fate, we may well have ended up with the solution best suited to us.

Yes, I'm sure you know who will be frothing at the mouth regarding rip-offs but for those who can see the bigger picture, it's probably for the best long term.

Indeed.
Due to lockdown restrictions, all the benefit, both in terms of revenue and a boost to attendances was completely lost and you have to feel for their fans who missed out on a trip to Wembley.
Would it have made a difference to their current plight, who knows but, it was massively unfortunate for them.

I think your spot on Vasty, Newmarket would have been difficult for us compared with BV, our match day is a day out and for me the infa structure around NM doesn’t lend itself to that.

I’ve never been, but from the photos it looks to be a tidy little stadium. If they could increase the capacity by a couple of thousand it’d be perfect, and isn’t it actually in Salford as well?

If somebody offered me 11th place right now I would snap their hands off, I know that may seem pessimistic but I think it is realistic

Glad you're not the coach then. It's up to you but what's the point in starting the season with that mentality? Honestly, if I felt like that I wouldn't bother.

Finishing 11th would be ok JUST but to snap hands-off for it before a ball is even kicked, sorry but I find that an atrocious attitude but then you probably think I'm stupid for being generally optimistic at the start of every season.

The way Toulouse have approached their first SL season reminds me of London and altho ultimately they fell just short, they sure caused a few shocks...in any other season they'd have stayed up

They did, and I know they beat us fair and square, but they were also helped by some teams that they played at the time....
No names - Saints...... (cough)

For Saints then read Catalans now??

There is nothing wrong with being optimistic and I think with a good run of injuries and a bit of luck here and there we could make the top 6 but on the flip side with bad injures and some bad luck we will be struggling near the bottom.

I know my opinion on finishing 11th will not be popular but I wouldn't be surprised if we had the 11th or 12th highest Wage Bill so it may well be realistic?

I agree that we should not be aiming to finish 11th and I think the players and coach will be targeting the playoffs.