This is last chance saloon for Salford! Its discouraging to read on the Docs twitter account only around 2500 tickets have been sold; Marwen Koukash has transformed the club from rock bottom to potential champs and now its time to thank him for his efforts. There is support just look at the crowd for the last match at the willows!! We can only hope these people turn out in force again starting with the Wakefield Match, Salford need the fans more than ever and if the squad that’s been assembled cant attract them nothing will!! One thing is for sure if the Doc walks away in a couple of years I fear it will be the end for Salford…

I think Marwan has unrealistic expectations for crowds next season. One thing is for sure, our average will at least double (if not treble) on last seasons figures. It will take more than some good names signings to get the general Salford public back interested in Salford RLFC. If we start the season well, crowds will continue to increase and a decent finish next year will ensure more ST sales for 2015.

Unlike buying players, you can't buy fans. This is a process which is going to take a period of time and Koukash needs to accept/understand this.

I think there will be a good crowd for the opener regardless. I can't help thinking that some people are more reluctant to part with season ticket money after the hype of 'the Feka' proclamation and the general overstating that went on in the dying days of the last administration. I think a lot of fans will be pay-as-you-go and see how the team fairs before committing. There's an air that surrounds Salford RL that smells of the same brand of hype. Purely because we have not seen the full effect of the Dr's tenure, team, and effect yet. I don't label myself in that category but I'd hazard a guess that there is quite a few who do. Season ticket sales, although good, wont necessarily be an indication of overall support this first season. It probably highlights why we need to get a great start to the season.

As for the Dr walking away, he's said on a few occasions that he's not one for walking away before he's succeeded. There's plenty of indication that he's proud enough to follow through, at least as far as I can see.

F*ck me, I'm bored of all this now. Last chance saloon, we've only sold this many tickets, we've really sold that many...

Roll on the first game of the season, Jesus.

I believe we now have a total of about 5000 followers of which many have not been attending games in recent years. The last match at the Willows when we had a 9500 gate was not a true reflection of our support because it was attended by families of ex players, deceased supporter’s families and dignitaries.

If you consider the Northern Rail Final in Blackpool back in 2008 the crowd was about 6300 of which I believe about 5000 were Salford fans. Go back 20 years to our Challenge Cup semi final defeat to Sheffield in 1988 at Headingley the attendance was 6900 of which I believe approximately 5500 were supporting Salford.

I’ve read the Doc is looking for 8000+ crowds but to be honest despite the investment I can’t see us getting anywhere near that on a regular basis this year. I think it’s going to take 2-3 years of real progression on the field before fan numbers starts to grow significantly.

I predict an opening attendance against Wakefield of 4700 and an average for the year of around 5500. I hope we will get more obviously and I’d be pleasantly surprised if we do.

Well I'm going to ask for a refund on this years ticket as it hardly seems worth the expense if the nails & coffin are alreadt being lined up.

I know were all bored but can we try a little positivity.

[url=http://s576.photobucket.com/user/razzle_dazzle_daz/media/oddballkellysheroes2t1.jpg.html[/url

I think people will see how it goes first before commiting to a season ticket, I think there will be a fair few walk ups tbh and if we start doing well more and more will come, I do think the first game will be sold out though or close.

What were ST sales like at the Willows in comparison?

I know quite a few who use to go to watch Salford in the latter years at the willows but become disillusioned with all the false dawns and the move away they just cant be bothered to put the effort in to get down to Barton. However with all the buzz being created they are starting to show interest again and although wont buy a season ticket yet, they are already referring to themselves as the "glory hunters" as they will be coming again to watch a few games and i am sure if we are winning they will become regulars once again.

As already stated, it's OK building a team but the results on the pitch will be what drags people back in when we are genuinely giving them something for their money to watch and cheer on. Apart from '06 we haven't been a decent team in almost 40 years. You are not going to just get 6000 fans queuing up no matter what to buy a season ticket.

I agree. The level of performance and results in the first few games is hugely important and will be the determining factor in attracting back lapsed support.

i bought the wife , the 3 match for £50 offer . i bet a few of those have been sold as xmas presents for people not sure if they want to commit to an s/t

I think it should be viewed as the first chance saloon for the off-field staff to prove their worth.
There is the 999 Emergency Services to target and the management of multi-employee businesses where they can be persuaded to purchase season tickets and raffle them to their staff,perhaps giving the profits to a charity,or cater to those working alternate shifts and unable to attend all games/reward for hard work/acts for the benefit of others/employers.
Those businesses/Emergency Services people can perhaps have them delivered by a player(s) if available.
Get into the community and try not to give a guilt complex to the hardcore support.

That stated,if there is anything I can do to help...

It's all kicking off on twitter tonight ....

@drmarwanK: @SamKlineberg Mate, not annoyed but disappointed that interest is not greater than what had been shown so far

@drmarwanK: @MRFITFCTiger Salford has the biggest potential. We will be the biggest SL club in the country. You have not seen any thing yet


@drmarwanK: @Riclufc7 Idiot ?. You won't be calling me that when we start signing your best players including the academy ones. We are the future team

@drmarwanK: @Riclufc7 Mate, the order at the top is changing and you better get used to it now.





Lost his cool or enthusiastic fighting talk? Never a dull moment with a The Doc.

What people/opposition fans don't realise is when they plss him off on twitter it just makes him more determined to succeed, so by all means everyone carry on ing off the wealthiest RL owner in the game it can only be good for us.

He's certainly passionate that's for sure. It's too early to judge but I certainly think RL is better with Marwan Koukash in it. An interesting decade awaits......

I think he's brilliant I really do, I just hope the people of Salford and Gtr Manchester start to see it and come ouy and support their club or more of the locals are converted to RL.

It's all a bit surreal , A year ago we didn't even know his identity , a total unknown in RL. and we unable to sell a single ticket because our bank account was frozen .
[urlhttp://www.itv.com/news/granada/2013-01-08/racehorse-owner-shows-interest-in-struggling-reds/[/url

Nearly 40days to go to the 1st fixture and there's angst because we've only allegedly moved 2.5K season passes ... 2500 passes without resorting to wider press or add campaigns to see a team that hasn't played a game together yet , and some people have written off as old mercenaries after a last payday ...,we should be ecstatic .

His main strength is that he comes from a background in racing. Selling racing is not just selling watching horses run but a wider entertainment package with exciting horse racing at the core. Selling Salford will be the same: a wide entertainment package that has an exciting Rugby game at the core. These days we are competing in the entertainment business and offering just a RL game is not enough. I may like it but a family new to the sport?

Too many RL enthusiasts have not embraced this yet: they therefore deride the watering down of the core values they defend. Tough. They are dinosaurs. Society has moved on and other sports have siezed the chances this brings.

An example is RU at Twickenham: it provides bags of money for that sport, makes a huge impact in the media, is hugely successful, and for many the game is only one bit of a wider package of food, drink and other entertainment.

I may have a cloth cap but no whippet, lad.

He's expecting far too much too soon IMO, we've not even played a game yet never mind won one. I fear for the attendance against Saints if Wakefield beat us.

People will come out to watch a winning team that is the fact of the matter, at the moment we don't have a winning team and as it stands we are still the worst team in league (going off last year’s standings). If we have a good season this year people will sit up and take note then next year and future years we will see the benefit.

Exactly. We've made promising signings on paper in the past and things have failed on grass - 2007 anyone? There is definitely a good degree of optimism and positive signs, but there will be plenty whose enthusiasm has been worn down by years of stodge and are waiting to see some proof of improvement.

I think 2500 isn't too bad. It will take time for new fans to commit to a season ticket, but I'm sure a lot of them will start off by coming to the odd game to see what they think. Hopefully if we get off to a flyer, the buzz will be generated.

In one of the first games under Koukash's ownership, we played Hull KR and beat them 38-34 infront of 1,989 people with that figure including a couple of hundred KR fans too. We've already sold 2,500 tickets with no doubt more to come in the forthcoming weeks, which is a vast improvement.

This will only continue to improve if the team fullfill their expectations on the pitch, on paper we have favourable opening fixtures, win these and attendances will improve. As I said earlier, it's all well and good Koukash wanting more ST sales but he's only been involved with Salford RLFC for the last 12 months. The majority of those with an interest in Salford have been around for the last 25 years plus and have been let down time and time again, to the point where they require actions to speak louder than words i.e see a successful team playing well.

Some good posts on here - even from opposition fans.
I looked at the magic screen last night - just for a different perspective.
By chance came across a club where the chairman,during difficult financial times,was a former horse racing jockey,Willlie Carson,who later commentated alongside Clare Balding on the tv.
They used an outside agency,over a 6 months period and managed a 32% increase in season ticket sales.
I think we have surpassed that on the efforts of Dr K alone;in a far shorter timescale.[url=http://www.goodform.info/page.asp?section=234Story[/url

I then returned to my usual simmering rage when I read an online billet-doux from the RFL to an outside agency which specializes in 'fan engagement and customer relationship management' and played a part in the recent World Cup and 'encouraging new and lapsed fans'.Not only that,the list of clients includes 3 Super League clubs,two geographically close,and Hull FC.

Were their services offered? Did anyone in the rugby league family help our club by pointing us in their direction?
[url=http://www.4sight-sport.com/news/rfl-has-the-4sight-to-improve-their-fan-engagement-and-data-strategies/4Sight[/url

Looks like we shall have to go it alone.Don't forget to grab your posters !

I for one will be heartened (and surprised) if we have sold 2,500. Thinking back to last season, as stated above, we had less than that on the ground for a fixture. I may be wrong but I don't reckon there were 2500 Salford fans in attendance for a few home games (London, Catalans, Huddersfield, Castleford games all spring to mind), though I may be wrong.

Assuming we have sold that many, and assuming another 1500 locals walk up on the day, plus 1000 from Wakefield and we have a decent (though not spectacular) opening attendance. Win that and beat London, and the stage is set for a gold-plated opportunity to put ourselves in the shop window on Sky against Saints (though it'll probably snow...)