Why wouldn't Salford be spending near the cap? You've lost me?

Dr Koukash's comments about us struggling to compete with NRL and RU for players due to the cap are not necessarily just about Salford and him wanting them to be the Chelsea or Man City of RL. Obviously the Salford club will be his primary concern as he wants to see an upturn in their fortunes. The issue of the salary cap and it reducing our relative competitiveness in wage terms against NRL and RU clubs though is one that potentially hampers all clubs. The issue is not merely with one newly rich club wanting to buy up the game's best but with all clubs' ability to keep hold of their own players when RU/NRL clubs come sniffing about.

If at the end of this year after the world cup RU and NRL combined decided that they wanted Sam Tomkins, Josh Charnley, Ryan Hall, Zak Hardaker, Tom Briscoe, Jonny Lomax, Stefan Ratchford, John Bateman, Keiron Dixon, Daryl Clark, Theo Fages, Eloi Pellissier (all just examples so no arguing over the merits of players listed please) our clubs would be in a very poor position to even hold onto those players, as RU particularly would be willing and able to offer silly money compared to what any RL club could offer under the cap. Our competition and our international squads would suffer greatly from such a raid. Some form of cap dispensation for 1 or 2 players per club would help this situation and providing clubs could afford it (whether through a rich owner or other means) then it may be a solution to what is likely to be an increasing problem with our talent being cherry picked. Dr Koukash is certainly not the first to call for some form of reforming of the cap and I am sure he won't be the last.

Do you actually follow rugby league? Have you seen the players Salford have? Even the local village idiot would be able to tell you that Salford are nowhere near the salary cap.
The good Dr seems to be a very astute businessman unlike our last board members. He feet are very much grounded. There's no way he will pay OTT wages to mediocre players.

This is why he's trying to broker a deal to purchase the stadium and surrounding land.
His aim is to build better training facillities, including a centre of excellence with on site boarding for the young players to live in. He fully understands that he needs a good youth system to make this work in the long term.

No, but he will have to pay OTT wages to entice good players to Salford and with a Salary Cap in place he's probably limited to about 3 signings - And we all know Salford need a lot more than 3 good players to get them competitive.

Salford's problem at the moment is that they have nothing which would appeal to a top player, bar the cash incentive....Low crowds, lousy squad - Can you imagine the talks with Tomkins had Wigan accepted their bid?....



'So you're telling me I'll be playing with a load of donkeys, be expected to carry them, and be playing in an atmosphere that resembles the moon??... Hmmm, I don't think so Mr Koukash '....

I heard Koukash's comments as reported here www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-league/21642083 as they happened, but didn't catch Vievers' remarks. If that's accurate and Koukash is serious, I give Vievers until Monday lunchtime.

I heard Koukash's comments as reported here www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-league/21642083 as they happened, but didn't catch Vievers' remarks. If that's accurate and Koukash is serious, I give Vievers until Monday lunchtime.

It's easy to laugh and mock when you've been watching Saints steamroller their way through SL for the past x amount of years.

Some one with vision will realise that being the first person to sign up for what potentially could be one of the best things to happen to Euro SL eventually is worth the risk.
I agree it will have to be a very brave player, but that player will also have a huge confidence in his own abilities and pulling power to help entice the beginning of the new era.
We all know Sam Tomkins is to much of a onetrick pony ehouse to have the balls to pull off something like that


It's players with that brave vision who go on to become the greats of Rugby league.

I follow Warrington actually....



I agree with what you say to an extent, but the reality is that Koukash is expecting far too much, too soon.

Using Wire as an example, Simon Moran started throwing his cash about in 2002 - It took him almost 10 years to see any reward for his efforts....The quality of signing was a steady improvement over that time - At the start, the quality of player we have now, simply wouldn't consider coming to Wire.

Koukash has to realise this isn't football - He cant just do an Abramovich. He desparately needs somebody to rein him in and advise him properly....Personally, I'd sack Vievers immediately and bring in Brian Noble.

Dont assume that is necessarily a good thing.

He will have no choice. There is literally no other reason that any decent player would want to play for Salford.

Oooops sorry





Don't think that Koukash hasn't got a long term plan. All the sounds I've heard are that he has a well structured , realistic one in place, From increasing revenues to help the club become self sufficient. (Hence why he's in discussion to purchase the stadium and surrounding area) To installing the best junior development system possible. That's why he's brought in two of the most well respected names in Rugby League from the other side of the world. He's stated quite openly that he's not here to be a sugar daddy.

What he is trying to do is get a few benchmark names in to increase interest in the club, start winning some games which in turn will encourage people to come back and watch Salford. He realises a winning team is paramount in ensuring this works and then build on it year from year.

That's the one thing he desperately doesn't need. He came in wanting to acheive big things quickly. Good luck to the guy. If you want to rein him in, you might as well tell him to just go away, since this sport isn't meant for the likes of him. We only react like the Tomkins thing is a joke because of the small-minded view we have of our little sport which means we just don't have this imagination to believe a Chelsea or Man City style turnaound is possible. And I'm a Wigan fan who'd want to see Wigan fight to keep Tomkins. But anyone who can keep him in SL is good enough for me.

I read somewhere Tim Sheens might be willing to coach over here after the world cup.
What sort of odds would you get on Mr Koukash installing him as their coach for next season, I reckon the chance to play under a coach of Sheens quality would have players queing around Barton Bridge.

The blokes a dick who seems to shoot from the hip. Why slag of in public.

Lets see where he and the Reds are in 3 years

put it this way, we'll be in a miles better position than we are today.

You seem to have a real issue with our new owner. Don't know why your resorting to personal insults against someone you have never met and a club you couldn't care less about.

one word worried!

If he wants to sling his money about...a bid of a penny would get him Brett Seymour

Why would anyone be "worried" about this guy splashing the cash? Good luck to him I say...he realises that Salford need crowds of 10k+ to be self sufficient and he had definite plans to get them to that position...I really hope he does it because it will show other clubs what can be achieved if they promote themselves properly.

Dont talk wet Greg - 6 months ago - Patton, Gleeson, Moon,Holdsworth, Smith etc - these players take a bit of replacing & I would estimate that 60% of the cap is still available. Watch this space.

Personally i'd love to see a competitive Salford and i think i will...in at least 4 years.

It will be a slow burner, the really good players that are out of contract or after a better option will realise that success will take time to build, possibly not want to be part of the long game.

What i can see is Salford picking up the good but disruptive players eg Hock.
The talented but 2nd choice types sick of waiting in the wings.
The good players after the extra security of a longer contract than their current team can provide.
Young kids not interested in playing duel reg
Mercenaries.
Aussies/Kiwi's good enough to make an impact in SL but not good enough to stay in NRL team of their choice.

That will be the formula until they start to make the 8, after that mission is accomplished then he can start his mission to attract the best like Tomkins.
If he's in this for the long term i can see Salford competing in the playoffs in the future but not for at the very least 3 years but realistically 4 to 5 years.

I like the guy though.

Your not the brightest bulb in the box are you

Oh arnt I? It seems its your bulb that isn't so bright, I assume your talking about spending the percentage of your profits? Koukash only has to sponsor the club and he can spend what he likes as sponsorship is included in total yearly profits, so if he sponsors Salford for the 1.6 million cap that'll mean they'll be free to spend it.
You never heard of a football club by the name of manchester city? And there etihad airways sponsorship? It's a loop hole that businessmen will use to get around salary caps of such.

You're missing the point entirely. SL cap is not linked to revenue any more. He doesn't need creative accounting, via sponsorship or whatever, to pay £1.6million. He just needs the money or the means to secure loans to pay it. As for football, you're referring to Financial Fair Play - that's something different.

As for Koukash, he sounds impatient for results. Nothing wrong with that as long as he doesn't approach it too destructively and sack people toonquicky. From before he bought them, it was clear a) he wanted the ground and b) he knows he needs that to make Salford sustainable. He hasn't got the ground yet - I'm sure he'll update us on that very soon.

The only thing that would trouble me slightly if I was a Salford fan is his propensity to take the the local radio station and the local rag, the M.E.N. I appreciate he us trying to raise the profile and stuff but it might be sensible to reign it in a tad - doesn't want to become known as a bit of rent a quote, particularly if a lack of experience leads him to say something foolish.

I did wonder Ian if that was a ploy to get cheap publicity/awareness, Salford need it and he's certainly keeping them in the public eye.