The Doc might not have any knowledge of running a sports club but he is wise enough to surround himself with people who know the sport and have a long association at all levels.

Long term it is hard for most fans to believe this will fulfil all our dreams, but Koukash is dealing with the problems we were all aware of.

Another bitter non Salford fan wishin for our demise I see! Rugby League family?! Don't make me laugh!

There's a good side and a bad side. On the one hand, he seems to be laying the right foundations with his backroom staff, and with some of the things he has been saying about long term sustainability, and although you may think of him as 'clueless', there's no doubt he's brought in some pretty heavyweight advisers. On the other hand, there seems to be this mad rush to pick up silverware inside two years, which I don't think will happen.

Just asking a question and making an observation doesn't make him a "bitter non Salford fan". There's a danger that this siege mentality - where no-one's allowed to question us, and every defeat is the fault of the referee and/or the RFL - will lead to us becoming like Warrington. And we don't want that, do we?

I really very much doubt it Lancetodd, I think he will be smiling from ear to ear that somebody else has taken the unshakeable, high maintenance monkey he's had on his back for the past 30 years. Much to your disappointment I'm sure.

I'd love to see a successful Salford to be honest. I've slated Salford in the past as you seemed to be a club that was drowning in Super League when you were at the Willows. But another strong, well supported, club would be great for Super League so I was pleased when you were saved by someone with as much ambition and I posted such on the Saints forum when he took over if you want to read back.

My worry is that Koukash will shoot too quickly. He's been very open and spoken publicly every time a result has gone against Salford and whilst Vievers may not be the answer, whoever succeeds him needs to get a good stint in order to be able to build. You can't just steam into a organisation, call it rubbish, change everything and expect it to be better overnight. I expect that rather than motivated, the existing staff are all in a negative frame of mind and expecting to be turfed out.

Anybody at the club now should only feel nervous if they are not confident in performing their duties to the required standard. The reason we are where we are now is due to bad management and a loyalty to people who were actually under achieving for a long time. (eg Tarry ).

I could handle being "just like Warrington" although I'd hope, in time, we could be even more successful.

The Dr has come in to make this a success and he, along with his advisors, has decided there needs to be change if this success is going to come. Having a goal of silverware in a short period of time is a good thing. You've got to have a goal in any project.

All the staff and players SHOULD feel under pressure 24/7. It's about being in a winning club environment. Do you think there are hangers-on at Manchester United, Barcelona or Chelsea? No. If you don't perform in whatever function you are employed, you should be nervous. It is real life. If I didn't perform, I'd expect a repercussions.

I am sure I read that the Dr is tied in for 5 years. So let's give him longer than 6 weeks before questioning his decision making. He wants to make this work. As do we.

Spare a thought for the commercial people at the club. It must be very difficult to sell new sponsorship this week, extra club merchandise, hospitality or match tickets for the next home game after performances like last Friday. I'd imagine its a much harder sell than if they were at Warrington, Wigan or Leeds. Confidence is a great quality but you have to have a good product to sell that people will buy. I'm sure these people will give it their best shot but I wouldn't expect the results to be groundbreaking (despite the Doctors warning) until the team improve.

The Doctor is aware that to turn any enterprise around and to then accelerate it into success will take time. If not, he knows nothing about management: it's patently obvious he does

However he is equally aware that he needs fans queuing to get into Salford. Like any other entertainment, this depends on public perception of quality for money spent. People will not opt to visit Salford for an evening's entertainment unless they see it as enjoyable and also can be involved in "success"/"celebrity"/"family".

We need silverware very soon to get that attitude and perception going. If it means a team of old but competent players on a year's contract to "buy" the cup, then let this happen. It will act as a catalyst amongst the punters and allow the younger players room to develop into a winning club.

When I buy food, I do not ask the grocer (etc) whether the food has been nurtured in a cool field in Durham or hot housed in a Kentish greenhouse. I require that it tastes good.

Now there's a question?

There's one thing about his comments; they make a bit of a mockery of all the claims that the club was previously well run by the likes of Tarry.

If I comment on this I suspect someone will use the "You're only jealous card" however as a Wakefield fan I'm pretty content at present.

My view of Salford is PV was starting to build a better team however money ran out last year so he lost most of his stars, also he was unable to re-new contract for other player he would have liked to have kept. This left the team a good deal weaker that last years fairly difficult season.

A new owner comes in with loads of wealth and sounds happy to throw money at the club to take it forward which is great news for Salford fans.

However what hand is PV left with? Still has a fairly thin squad lacking a bit of class in key positions every team has planned their squads within budget and will not allow any key players to go e.g. Chase, Morley etc who if you had approached in the close season might have come. So how do you add to that and encourage the players to perform above their ability? Encourage priase and coach well would be my thoughts however I like the Doctor have no experience. Each game adds a little more pressure and they all have an axe over them which is an ok expectation if your an international star player.

To change a culture, to build a winning team takes time look at Hull who have money as a similar proposal a good team on paper but all over the place, the pressure has ruined Seymour as a player.

If I was a Salford player and got injured how much would I want to get back in the squad? A bit like Torres at Chelsea who said when he was on the bench didn't want to get on the field.

If I were a top player would I fancy going to Salford? You need a few solid signing and then a big name coming in then the results will come.

Did it take time with Hull? If my memory serves me right they were tash for the first couple of seasons in super league with an awful average attendance, when they merged with Gateshead they almost turned into a top 6 team over night as they inherited gatesheads whole team. attendances went up and they became one of the big clubs.
The difference with Salford is we don't have a top team to merge with and inherit all their best players do we? So Koukash will have to buy a top team then we'll we a rise in attendances, Koukash isn't stupid he's said on numerous occasion if he builds it they will come so he isn't expecting 10000 crowds until the team warrents 10000 crowds.

When I refer to HulI'm not going back to the merger. I'm more talking about recent times and Pearson wanting to make them a top club winning trophys. They had a strong team and money to spend however they are no more forward than they were before. Class signings for them Holdsworth as you had to cash in and Ellis who is brilliant but has limited years left at top level and wanted to return home to UK.

If we use Tomkins as an example, he plays for a team who will compete for trophies this year, so what would the appeal be for him to come to you? Massive wage? So do you want players that are focussed on their bottom line rather than being winners?

The answer is will be you want winners but they tend to be playing for winning clubs. The doctor doesn't help players wanting to come to you either, he is too hands on and aussie coaches will not put up with him interfering in team motivational speaches etc.

Also as a note he doesn't want a top 6 team he want to win things next year. Buying top stars will not win always, some of Wigans players have played with each other since they were kids.

I'm not knocking what he is trying to do as another really strong team in SL would be good (Even though it would be another team we are going to struggle against!) however he wants everything to fast to soon and that may become problematic.

I think the only concerns would be what is quick enough in terms of success?

Joined to that, what will he do if success does not come?

He was talking of lifting the Salary cap the other day, but this is something that has given teams a chance of staying in the hunt for success. If the salary cap was lifted it would not make signing Tomkins any more likely, it would just make it more likely that Wigan would give a raise to Tomkins.

If the salary cap door was opened, how long till one of these backers says well I've ploughed in as much as I am prepared to, that's it and leaves a club in a financial hole?

There are different ways of looking at the salary cap but I guess it all depends which side of the fence you are on.

I think you could look at Man City for stuff like this running on massive losses but the owners aren't bothered but no one could take the club over with their wage bill.

If say Tomkins is on 250K at Wigan as a local lad come up through the ranks my want £275K from Salford and I can't see the cap being removed anytime soon and his dream is possibly restricted by this.

He wants success after 4 games so how patient do you feel he is?

All things said your in a better situation but the management team need to set realistic targets on players who have class and might be available

Rangi Chase close season visa permitting
Gareth Hock
Graham returning from Oz
Morley for a year
Dobson from HKR
Seymore from Hull??
Carney winger at Cas looks good
Eden HKR possible good fo future

seymour you mad hes awfull

With a bit of TLC could be ok however he could alos be c**p!

Have any of you seen the news re Seymour. I'll be surprised if he plays again in the near future. Sounds like a serious health issue and a long term problem. Depression can end his career, the car crash sounds like a cry for help.

You're probably right but presuming Salford are struggling to attract top class players, the quickest way to help remedy this is to get a big name coach. Although the club's top brass insist the decision to sack Veivers was based purely on results, it is plausible that somebody was already earmarked for the coaching job before last Friday's result.



Money talks. Perhaps not for Tomkins as he has the luxury to be 'a winner'. Most don't.



It doesn't matter. It is clear now, after a few home games, that Koukash's investment was the only way to save Salford's place as a Super League club. If he walks away, Salford are in no worse position as they were after Christmas.



The salary cap helps save clubs from themselves. It's a good thing. Marwan was no doubt thinking aloud.

I thought he just did a ' Chris Tauro ' but it sounds desperate , I remember last season at home against us the Hull fans were giving Seymour a hard time such was the expectation on him to deliver.

I don't think Salford is the place for the likes of a Ben Barba or a Brett Seymour at present , not with the Dr's '
We've been labelled a retirement home in the past. no more

Really hope this hype around a new coach and all the Dr's promises in the press will be followed up soon with the announcement of a coach to move the club forward. When you look at who's out there that can start tomorrow the list isn't too long! I'm not confident with the UK coaches available. And if it is to be an Aussie or a Kiwi as indicated, there are other factors to consider, ie. moving to the other side of the world, family/ kids to set up, visas etc. It'll become a logistical thing and one I hope moves quickly and smoothly.

A thought - a criteria for the Exiles coach is obviously to be a free agent club wise but to also be from the Southern Hemisphere - perhaps they could be one and the same!