According to the banner at the bottom of the screen on Sky Sports News, Mal Alker has been offered a coaching contract for next year but NOT a playing contract.

Could be the end of an era for arguably our greatest player of the Super League era??

mcrae just been on gmr saying that no playing contract has been offered just a role on the coaching staff but he has not made a decision whether he will take that role up

Is this possibly how we've managed to raise the funds to keep hold of Holdsworth? I'm sure Malc was our top earner... He got a pretty decent contract following the interest shown by St George a few years back IIRC.

I regard Alker as one of the most over-rated players of the Super League era. A solid tackler and the occasional good scoot from dummy-half, but the way people rave about him has always struck me as totally over-the-top.

you are Stevo!

That's probably because you've not watched him week-in, week-out for the whole of his career.

Admittedly, his best years are well behind him now but he's been the cornerstone of our team for a decade and has performed heroics for us throughout that time.

Your description of him as a "solid tackler" is a huge under-exaggeration.

Of course, you are entitled to your opinion

even if it is demonstably and completely wrong and held only by a minority, many of whom are ignorant of the game.

[iOf course "The Speculator" you are entitled to your own opinion.

But as someone who has more or less seen every game that Malcolm Alker has played for the Salford City Reds righ back from day one when he arrived at the Willows I can assure you this man has given his all for our club and he has never ever taken a backwards step.

By rights he should have been given a chance a few years ago on the International stage but just like Steve Bruce when playing for Manchester Unied he was always overlooked for some unkown reason by the coaches off the day.

I firmly believe Salford City Reds are correct in only offering him a non playing role at the club but if Mal wants to carry on playing then I'm affraid it's time for him to leave the Willows at the end of this season.

I think if you were to ask most Salford City Reds fans about Malcolm Alker they would all agree with me he has been a very loyal hard working totally commited player for Salford City Reds and although it will be a sad day when he does hang his boots up for the last time.

But I suppose thats life and all good things have to come to an end in our great game.

I would like to give a big thanks to Malcolm Alker for every thing he has done for the Reds over the years.


THERE'S ONLY ONE MALCOLM ALKER......

James Rowley...


[/i

Salford as well as Mal Alker are moving on to bigger and better things

Fantastic superhuman efforts at times in a Red shirt over the years a moden day legend

Spot on. Malc would die for this club and has been a fentastic servant for us since the day he first pulled on the red jersey. Is he the greatest player that ever lived? No, but for me he was always Salford's answer to Roy Keane, passion, heart, courage and an inspiration to his team-mates. His at times superhuman ability to put his body on the line regardless of injury or fatigue puts him up there with the all-time "greats" that I have seen in a Salford shirt (admittedly that's only the last 20 years

). The way he chased down Matt King at Wire last season over 80 metres will stick long in the memory after many other players would have given up the chase.

The option not to renew his playing contract is the right one for the club. Malc being the ultimate professional will have his pride hurt and will feel that he is still capable of cutting it at the top level. Whilst I am sure he would "do a job" l believe it is time to give Matty Smith a try at 9. If that means Malc stepping down a division to continue for another year or two then there will be clubs queueing up to sign him as not only will they get a top player they would also get a cracking role model for some of their younger lads.

Sir Malc, whatever route you choose it has been a pleasure watching you for the past 10+ years

. Call me an old fool but seeing him play his last game at The Willows will bring a tear to my eye and will be the end of a era. If Malc's replacement has 50% of his guts/commitment etc then we shouldn't go too wrong.

PS. Yes, I am a little bit of a Malcolm Alker fan if you hadn't noticed

Malcolm "HITMAN" Alker always looks like he's walking/running on a red hot beach.

who the feck is going to do all the tackling now malc is off

Think this is maybe a case of the head ruling the heart, doubt there is any Salford fan who wouldn't give Mal the biggest round of applause for what he has done in his past glories but now his star is on the wain I would hate to see him try another season and then risk a further one after that for the honour of leading us out at the new ground.
Mal should he retire at the end of this season will go virtually at the peak of him powers and I am pretty certain be the clubs top try scorer.

I hope he does stay on the coaching staff as I do feel that he will make a top class coach and continue his one club career.

I am bound to be shot down inflames by all the Alker brigade and especially by Hillbilly Red who appears to think any comment against Alker means you know nothing about the game, but here goes.
He should have gone at least 3 years ago, it was obvious to all and sundry that he had lost pace and his passing at the PTB was so slow it was embarassing.
We then had the Jacksonville affair of which we will probably never know the full story.
Alker has also been in 3 teams that were relegated and captain of two of them.
He was a good player albeit a tackling machine but todays hooker is all about speed, passing and also scoring trys.
I look forward to seeing Jezza Smith in that role or Matty Smith as the club move into the future.
I would also think that a new player coming in and probably being on more money than him has also caused this.
Malc always did think he was bigger than the club, I am glad now at last we have the clout to say to him he is not.
The way some of you are speaking you would think he was the be all and end all of the club


[size=85 get the stocks out for me at the Warrington game

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Won't be much use as your barred for life

Fair points Salford Slim but to say he should go down as one of the modern greats is pushing it.
He never played for England or GB and dont think he ever would have done even if he was not at Salford.
As I said a tackling machine end of.
BTW Here is a soccer comparison.
Park at United will run round all day and work hard but would you say he is a modern great ?

TBH PR, I think he was Salford's answer to Keano. Keane epitomised power, passion, will-to-win etc but was never the most technically gifted like Scholes, Cantona etc. What Malc lacked in flair, pace etc he more than made up for elsewhere. He's had his day and it was a bl00dy good one and he should be remembered for that. Maybe if we'd seen the likes of Edwards, Hanley, Morley, Robinson playing at Salford then he'd be just another "good pro". Try telling Wimbledon that Fashanu wasn't a legend, ditto Le Tissier at Southampton, even Ian Wtson at Swinton

. We haven't been blessed with quality at Salford since the 70's and he has stood out a mile. I personally think he deserved at least a run out for GB at his peak as for a coupe of seasons he was definitely one of the top 3 British hookers in SL.

Good player Alker, how come if an aussie is a great tackling hooker like Buderus, he's a genius, but if you're English no-one rates you, wierd!

To be fair I agree with a lot of the points made by Prestwich red, Mal Alker has been a great servant to the club & on many occasions he has lead by example & can remember many occasion when is tackling has been a joy to watch, but I think he has played & carried too big a roll in the team over the last 3 years & in my opinion I think the team as suffered.
I also agree also with his comments about the training camp in America that something went on, which was pretty serious & was pushed under the carpet, one of my favourite players at the time John Wiltshire left the club & I always maintain this had more to do with this trip.

I wish Malcolm Alker well, I would like to thank him for is loyalty but I applaud the decision by the club which I believe is the correct decision, maybe this is the start of a new beginning certainly the capture of Holdsworth & his extension sends real positives through the club along with the progress of the stadium.

SSlim wrote :- He managed to chase down Matt King over the full length of the pitch last season. Apparently, Mr King is a top class Aussie Centre/Winger........ must be slow then

And yes, I agree that he should have moved into the 2nd row as his tackling is immense but his PTB leaves a lot to be desired.`

Sums it up for me. 2nd row it should have been.

You sure about that??



Had he signed for St George when they wanted him he would almost certainly have made it into the GB squad, as all NRL-based Poms do.

I suspect that is a career choice that Malc may always regret. I'm sure if he had gone then the set up and coaching in Aus would have turned him into a star

You don't know what you've got till it's gone.

Gutted that hes going but the correct decision imo. Are we also presuming others will follow suit. Havent heard much on Henry, Swain, Gibson or Sidlow been signed up. Anyone in the know about if any ooc players are leaving or staying??