Heard from one of the managers at work that Salford and Sale are to merge and become a Manchester team with new colours club crest the lot!. Apparently Sale's BOD are planning this merger due to the club becoming stagnant regrading fan numbers, and thinks a fresh start for both clubs would benefit both for the long term future. makes you think though doesn't it? One of the lads I sit next to at the game was speaking to JW last week when picking up a ticket for his son, Wilky was outside the club shop, and according to John SRLFC need to be averaging 8000 Fans to break even NOT SPEND THE FULL CAP for that we need a 10000 average. So the club is losing shed loads of money at this present time, is a merger the only thing that will stop us doing a Bradford in the near future and keep a RL team in Manchester central?

Where has this manager got it from?

All this stuff will come down the pipeline in the next few years. I would certainly never watch a Manchester team.

I too will never watch a Manchester team, I'd rather watch Eccles. He said he has friends in high places in RU? He doesnt even watch RL either? Apparently Sale will make Salford an offer that we can't turn down! Is it finally happening what some of us all feared would do?

I think sadly this has been the plan from day one and the Salford board are trying to put out all the stops to make this stadium a success for SRLFC in its own right before a plan b has to come into fruition before the club dies.

Will I get through the remaining 4 years of my season ticket before it all goes tits up?

I'm sorry but there is no way JW will just come out with the break even figure to a normal fan outside the club shop! I'm not having any of that! Scare mongering is bound to happen from now on but I think the proof is in the pudding. If Tarry says it will reduce costs and therefore give us the opportunity to maybe spend a bit more on the salary cap I think we need to give it a chance and see what happens before we start crucifying anyone. I can maybe see some kind of merger in the future, maybe the Salford Sharks but I doubt very much Salford City council would allow it to be the home of a Manchester club really. I'm no fan of Union at all but just feel that it has now happened and we have to give it a chance. I can see a joint season ticket being brought in at some point which may result in split revenues from them or maybe 60/40 in Sale's favour as they draw the bigger crowds. I read on another post that it is now time for our fans to help and get new feople in and I agree with that and hope we get a big crowd on Monday followed up by some great rugby and a good win would be a great start of the new era.

1) John Wilkinson is the biggest gossiper in the world. He can't keep anything to himself.
2) Dave Tarry explicitly said Sale moving in would have no financial benefit for us on GMR the other week.
3) Salford Sharks? Kill me now.
4) Split season tickets with Sale getting 60/40 of the revenue? Aarrggghh!

I really do give up.

That's clearly wrong as it makes Stadium naming rights and sponsorship a far more attractive proposition, and in turn increases the potential revenue to be gained.

You're three days late.

So do I, I bow down to all of your superior knowledge. I am only a fan and enjoy going to watch my club so I'll just stick to going and watching and keep my obviously wrong 'opinions' to myself.

Iain edited for accuracy





Yet Today Tarry is Quoted "The deal announced today has significant benefits for Salford City Reds. Success at Salford City Stadium is now a more affordable proposition " ?

Cannot see a split Season Ticket , though I can imagine some concession for tickets for season Tickets holders similar to Swinton last year at the Willows.

I can understand the misgivings of some regarding our position as ' financially inferior ' joint tenant , however we all new it was coming last june.
and the answer is simple . people continue to support and grow our attendances we will be stronger. We signed our fate in 2008 July when we got our 1st franchise on a promise of a stadium.
Read through Sales reasons for there decision to move to Barton :- they needed a better stadium too ,

As the title of this thread is Interesting Rumour, perhaps I can add a little fuel to the fire, all gleaned from recent filings at Company's House so in the public domain for all to see!

The Articles of Association of Salford City Football Company (1914) Ltd have been changed to add an addition class of share call "A" Shares as well as the existing Ordinary shares. The difference between the two classes is that Ordinary shares, if sold must first be offered to existing shareholders on the same terms as they are proposed to be sold at i.e. existing shareholders have first right of refusal. The "A" Shares have no restrictions on their disposal.
The largest shareholder has had all his shares converted to "A" shares.
Might we be seeing a change of ownership of the club soon? This could be a very sensible move to allow someone else to take on the debts of the club and acquire a controlling interest in the club - pure speculation, bu who knows?

Yeah, I had to check the date on the original post as well.

Anybody else feel like me in wishing we had never left the Willows? After all , would they really have kicked us out because of the ground. Just look at Wakey---Who knows if they will ever move grounds, but they are still with us..I miss the atmosphere at the Willows , and just wish they could have upgraded it somehow.Barton for me has very little atmosphere at the moment.They should have had the East stand as all standing , with seats behind the goalposts. Then we would have had a new SHED.

If the good people of Salford came out and watched us in any number, putting coin through the turnstiles we wouldn't be in a lot of the positions we find ourselves in. Trouble is, the word apathetic doesn't even begin to describe the local people with regard to their own SL Club. I realise that the people who read this are the passionate and hungry fans that this doesn't apply to. Unfortunately, there isn't enough to make it pay any more.

I'm highly suspicious of the motives behind anything RU when they come into contact with RL, but if it meant supporting a side that was Salford in all but name it would not bother me too much. Clubs evolve, sometimes for the best, sometimes not. Most Clubs in their long history have undergone transformation and people hate change. Trouble is, if we stay stuck in a rut we'll never get the chance to push on. After all our Club has gone through in the last few years I'd just be happy that we are still around in some format.

I'm not saying it's something I'm comfortable with, but I wouldn't abandon the Club if it made drastic changes to keep itself alive.

This is the Club I support, and couldn't give a toss what we are called. The Red Devils, City Reds, RLFC, or Sharks. It means little to me.

This is all speculation as it stands, so I'm just fuelling the debate so to speak...

Each to there own I suppose Butchers, I just couldn't see myself watching a team with no identity, for me if the name Salford goes then so do I as I will have no connection with them. I'm passionate about Salford not only as a rugby league club, but as a city. I'd rather watch a poor Salford in lower leagues then watch a brilliant City Reds, Reds, Sharks etc.

If the good people of Salford came out and watched us in any number, putting coin through the turnstiles we wouldn't be in a lot of the positions we find ourselves in. Trouble is, the word apathetic doesn't even begin to describe the local people with regard to their own SL Club.
Well said Butcher it really es me off, the Salford public has not been interested for some time, we can argue this has been caused by poor management.
We have a choice? engage local people tell them your city needs you lets get behind the club. Bradford have been run badly but the fans seem to have reacted positively we seem to want to peddle doom & gloom.
PS I am not saying its all rosy in camp Barton but we have what we have.

Probably the most important post on this board for a while, if our largest shareholder is going to sell who too? and if it is brian Kennedy he isnt going to spend lets say £1m buying us to ruin us, even if he is a millionaire its like burning million quid.
we have no assests for us to lose so why buy us?

interesting times ahead, lets hope who ever is coming in has the future of salford city reds and rugby league as a priority

Salford RLFC and Salford Council do all the work for a new stadium
Due to other circumstances Peel come in with the extra money and the ground is built.
I would guess Sale were always in Peels plans to come in.
We are ruled by them dont forget that.
If Peel want a Manchester Sharks or whatever team they want to call it they will get it.
We are pawns in a much bigger game here methinks

Maybe the threat of a Salford institution being re-named Manchester is the thing to rally the people behind the club and drag them out of their apathy.

If only. Salford CC lent the money to Peel for the build. I think it was a land ownership issue (the land where the retail will stand?) that got Peel to the table. I'm still wondering where the rest of the £22 million SCC->Peel loan went when when you consider that the stadium construction tender was £15M and Peel got £4M from the NWDA for ground remediation. Are we saying that the bridge, access road and car park were £7M?

Think the telling time will come when Wilky sells the club, hopefully whoever buys it will look at the runningsnd organisation of the club and make changes accordingly. If Tarry and to a lesser degre Simms are kept on we would have to assume that they are considered to be good at their jobs and thus seen as assets to the club.

As someone who has worked closely with Stockport County I have commented on this board before about how I feel about Kennedy.

He's a killer businessman and he only wants the best for Sale Sharks and his own pocket.

This rumour seems so so close to what Stockport County had to go through when Sale 'helped' them.

I really hope i'm wrong.

Could someone explain why the people of Salford should attend our games when most have little interest in Rugby League? It's not apathy but choosing one leisure activity over another.

I am a fanatic Salfordian but that does not make me typical.

We are punching obove our weight: let's hope it continues