Just for interest - over the last 15 seasons - has 'Salford' appeared on the Shirts in every season?

This is all very indicative of what is wrong with the fans.

We get a big name kit supplier and certain elements find nothing but fault in it.
We have a sponsor who chose too brand themselves as being in Manchester despite being in Salford and that same element moan.
We chose black, it should be white.
We get a new ground we should have stayed at the Willows.
We re brand and the decision to call ourselves Red Devils rather than Salford Red Devils causes wild speculation.

Within the space of 2 season we have gone from perennial hand too mouth strugglers too having a rich owner with vision, commitment and the will too make Salford succeed.

Can't people just except change and try for once too try and be positive rather than making it look like they don't appreciate what has been done to save the club from extinction.

I've no doubt my struggle with 2, to, too and two will be the main cause for concern for some.

I couldn't give too hoots.

I wasn't passing judgement on the sponsor on the shirt, I just didn't know that Peel were branding Media City as Manchester. Everything I have seen in the past when the BBC were moving was always referred to as Salford.

I couldn't give a monkeys what it says, just glad we have got a decent sponsor. Saying that the Lowry Outlet is a bit like our stadium, half empty!!!!

Outlet shopping is so popular I just don't know why the Lowry is so poor.

Maybe the club could open a shop in there in one of the empty units. Put us on show to more people.

[quo=#FF0000:1p120sdnte="Michigan red"Dear God what is your problem? You not like someone having a differing opinion to you?


He could always put any one with a different opinion on his foe list like some others do.

I`m sure the Doc and Martin Vickers put a lot of work in securing this and the big money that seems to be coming with the deal, though I`m not so sure of the £1million I saw mentioned. Whichever design was chosen someone somewhere won`t like it but the amount of vitriol and negativity I`ve seen on twitter Facebook and on here about the deal would if I was the Doc make me wonder why I bother.
I agree with Michigan, we should be shouting this deal from the rooftops. If you don`t like the design don`t buy it...

As you say,this is a good news story.
Another one.

Every Club will have moaners and doom-mongers. It just seems to me that we have an awful lot per head of fan than others and for a Club perched so precariously as we are, we can't really afford that luxury. There's little point in sitting back and wallowing in sentiment. We all pine for the Willows, success, the good old days. When kits were kits and there wasn't a video referee in sight. Like everything else, time moves on and we as a Club and fanbase need to go with it or face being left in the past. Unable to or unwilling to partake in the present. The Club is unrecognisable from even a few years ago. In a good way.

We're in danger of nitpicking the Club to the point that MK might just not see the point full stop.

Which will not only leave us without the 'Horrible non-Salford Kit' but without any prospects for the future.

Shall we all get a grip?

Too put this into prospective , I can only think of one other RL team who have a deal with a bigger company (Brisbane & Nike) and certainly there can't be any who invest so heavily in the science of the kits they produce.

If you look also at some of the athletes UA sponsor then they again show what a huge brand they are.

Tom Brady - NFL player.
Lindsey Vonn - Skier.
Hunter Mahan - Golfer.
Jordan Spieth - Golfer.

Pretty sure that Kooga and ISC don't have the same world wide presence.

Would be good if they picked one of the Salford team too be one of their named athletes too help spread the name of not just Salford but RL in general.

Well said are kid, was going two post the same but it was two much trouble and the too people who'd read it are both two busy.

Not really. As I said, I don't mind the debate, which has been had in a reasonable way a few times on here, round and around in circles. But recently you've really attempted to shoehorn it into things as much as possible, as if you're ashamed of Salford and just want to push your own agenda. It's getting very, very tiresome.



Pot, kettle, black. Made me laugh, though.



You're making yourself look daft here - the Red Devils "rebrand" is a huge nod to our heritage. Without Salford RLFC's heritage and the history of Les Diables Rouges, the current "rebrand" wouldn't have happened. So it's modernisation with a historical twist. And yes, modernisation can bring improvements, but not necessarily. Ask supporters of Cardiff City, for instance.

A club's history and heritage is part of it's very fabric, something intrinsic and important. Without it, a club is nothing. To suggest it lies purely in books and memories is ridiculous. We'll stop paying homage to Watkins, Fielding, Risman, Todd, et al, then?

Would I baulk at a successful side called the Red Devils? No. Would I baulk at a successful side that actively distanced itself from Salford? Yes.



But to some people, the name is just an intrinsic part of what runs through their veins. Some people support the club because it's a Salford club and represents their home city. Just as their parents did, or their grandparents. MK Dons still claim to be the same club that won the FA Cup in 1988. Anyone with half a brain would tell you that that club died the moment the name changed and they were moved to another part of the country.


The problem is also part of a wider gentrification of the City of Salford. The name is seen to have negative connotations. The University of Salford is now "The University of Salford - Manchester". MediaCity is pushed as being in Manchester, rather than Salford. If the city's only professional sports club then also decides to start rebranding itself away from Salford then surely you can see why people may just start to get a bit annoyed? All those places should be helping to promote the city and admonish it's bad name. Not running away from it.

The other thing, of course, is that any sort of rebrand is often used to make a club more successful, or increase attendances. The fact that Salford, playing as Salford, got 10,000+ for the last game at the Willows and 7,000+ for the first game of 2014 show that a club's branding is pretty meaningless for attracting new/lapsed supporters. A successful team on the pitch is what matters. If people concentrated on that, we'd probably get somewhere.

It is a good kit deal, it is good that we've got sponsors with clout and it is good that we've got a promise of a bright future. But to label people as "nit-picky", "doom-mongers", "moaners" or to suggest people "get a grip" because they don't fall into line and say how everything's wonderful is ridiculous. So people would like to see Salford on the shirt - is that a bad thing? So people would like to see Salford playing in red and white - is that worthy of being dismissed as negative people who don't appreciate what's been done by MK to save the club? So people would like to see things in the City of Salford recognised as being in Salford and not Manchester - is that worthy of being dismissed as "the usual suspects" and "the same old moaners"?

No, of course not. But, just as when John Wilkinson was in charge, people are not allowed to have a contrary opinion without being dismissed as ungrateful for what the club's owner has done for us.

Just to repeat. The kit deal is good. The sponsorship deal is good. I don't like the colours. Some people don't like the seeming move away from Salford branding across the club, not just on the shirt. Hardly worth getting on your high horses about, is it?

PS - if MK walks away from Salford because of a few people who don't agree with his every decision, I'd be mightily surprised.

Sadly it seems the 'just be grateful that we have a club' statement is going to be the new stick to beat everyone with who doesn't tow the party line.

Rightly so everyone is entitled to an opinion, naturally these will differ. Just because one person has a differing one to someone else doesn't mean they're necessarily being negative.

I don't personally like the design of the new home shirt, but I am very happy with us switching to a manufacturer such as Under Armour. I would like it if the club mentioned a little more about the commercial aspects of the deal, I have seen figure of £1million banded around but nothing from the club confirming or substantiating this i.e how many years is this over etc.

Does it really matter the name 'Salford' doesn't appear on the home shirt though? I don't think it does, although that said I see no logical reason why it wouldn't be included and seems a little daft that it isn't.

What is important though is for the first time in a long time we have released kit designs early, with a reputable manufacturer and are allowing supporters to place pre-orders with a guarantee that they will arrive in time for Christmas. It sounds like a simple thing but it is something we have got woefully wrong plenty of times in recent years - which has undoubtedly cost the club income.

Well, Jib. I don't shoehorn anything in. If I mention it, it's because I'm reacting to an instance of it being brought up. It really doesn't matter to me either way and I'm not sure what 'agenda' you think I have. I'm interested to know what influence and grand master plan you think I have? Because I'm sure as sheet just a Salford fan.

I wont break down the rest of your nonsense because I can't be bothered and you didn't really make an valid points worth discussing.

Absolutely spot on with everything you say. I actually don’t mind the kits but I will not be buying one though due to the fact there is no mention of ‘Salford’ but there is of ‘Manchester’ the club should be proud to represent the City.

Of course not, sweetheart. Enjoy the rest of your day. x

In terms of heritage I meant more go back to the start and play in the original colours, for me the nod to the Red Devils was a stroke of genius by the club as so many of us have called for it, now that they have it they don't seem to be happy. From the Docs point of view as the sole owner of the club he is trying too find a way too market the club/brand to a wider audience so putting Salford on would possibly alienate some fans. Those of us from Salford know it is Salford and that is who we support.



You said it yourself, pot, kettle and black.

Do you not think the modernisation of the Salford club is a good thing? I do, there many more pros than the few cons, it is more media friendly, more marketable and I'd think more salable to players the club is looking too recruit.

Too me the club needs to do more to celebrate the clubs brilliant ex players, make each home game a celebration of one ex player. I got shouted down when I suggested that when we played on St Davids day a couple of seasons ago we got the many ex great Welsh players down to introduce them too the new owners and stadium Apparently we should though celebrate St Patricks day and the long tradition we have of recruiting Irish players such as Andy (I once drunk a pint of Guinness so I'm Irish) O'Burgess.

Is the club actively distancing itself from it's Salford connections? I don't see it that way but we shall have too agree too disagree on that.

The team playing in Red at Barton is the same one who played in Red at the Willows in my eyes, they could re brand too Barton Bombers but you, I and everyone from Salford knows that the team is Salford. Look at the forced mergers in Australia, the same people still support the merged teams because they know that they are following their team.

I can see why people would get annoyed yes, but are we going to have the crazy situation where they walk away and start a separate club start all over again as Salford? I'm not dismissing people as being negative as much as I might not agree I support anyone's right too have a differing opinion (I just chose sometimes to not bother with the limp brains behind those opinions), what I do say though is I think people need too be a little more appreciative of what someone is doing too save, expand and ultimately make our club self sustaining. I swear some would grumble if the Doc put £100 million in the bank too safe gaurd us for life, what only £100 million blah blah blah.

I do see your point on the amount of bums on seats, but what the re brand is as much as anything is a marketing/sales driven decision, look at the headlines when we started the Devilution last year, the image the club now has following this will be a big contributing factor in getting Under Armour as the kit manufacturer. The new image sells, the old one just patently didn't.

A concession I would like too have made was Salford woven into the fabric, pretty sure that would have been quite doable and would have kept so many people happy, I think that something like that is something that someone with acumen at the club should have sussed as it was being designed.

I do worry sometimes that the Doc is incredibly knee jerk and doesn't seem too have the best behind the scene advisers, what I'd hate was a cumulative effect of all the negativity too start to wear him down, I doubt he'd walk away but I could see him offering the club up for the best taker. The Doc obviously loves the club and I'd love too see him get a return on his investment, get full houses and see nothing but love and bonhomme from the various sections of fans - some is attainable some I'm afraid will never happen

You need to get a chant going for next season incorporating the new "Red Devils" or you might be ridiculed like the Hudds fans for chanting "Fartown - Fartown".

But branding means nothing without a team on the pitch. Look at Manchester United and, now they're winning things, City. They didn't have to rebrand themselves as non Manchester clubs to get people from all over the UK and the world to support them. They just needed success. In City's case, wealthy owners helped. A "brand" that was an absolute laughing stock has become one of the most successful clubs in the country. No need for a new name, or to drop "Manchester" or "City" from anything. Just a team capable of winning trophies.



If you say so.




I do think it's a good thing. The club's in a much better state than it was under Wilkinson. Doesn't mean you can't find the odd fault, here and there.




I'da agree with that. St. Patrick's day had bugger all to do with us (and it's cack anyway) - something like your suggestion would, actually, be a good idea and have relevance to Salford RLFC. So will it happen? Probably not!



To be fair, I don't think that myself. This only started because I'm fed up of seeing posts dismissing people who do hold such concerns. Although I'm slightly wary of the rebranding, as it does strike me as being like the organisations I mentioned in my previous post. I can understand people's concerns.



Merged clubs aren't the same, though. The culture in Australia, the US and so on is completely different clubs are franchises, moved around at the whim of an owner. When the Brooklyn Dodgers moved to LA, people stopped supporting them. Despite the club shouting about how it was still the same franchise. Franchising is a dangerous thing and doesn't fit into the culture of sporting clubs in this country. Look at the reaction to mooted franchising in rugby league. And ask Gateshead and Sheffield fans what they think of it...



People might, although I doubt the support for such a club would be there. But if the club suddenly became the Manchester Red Devils, or North West Red Devils, I could see quite a few giving up. Again, for reasons mentioned in the previous post. To some, if the club no long represents the City of Salford, then it no longer represents them. That doesn't mean, however, that they have a limp brain. I think your last point on that paragraph is a bit of hyperbole, mind. I think people are appreciative of what's being done, but that doesn't mean they cannot question things. Blind faith is a dangerous thing.



I don't doubt that for a second. But the new image won't sell if the team carries on winning f**k all.



I agree with that. It seems like an oversight on something that so easily could have been done. We wouldn't then be having this discussion.



I think patience is the key, from everyone from MK down to us rank and file supporters. It won't change overnight. I think the only thing that will turn MK off is if he doesn't get his own way and win trophy after trophy after trophy. But it'll take more than marketing, branding and any impact the club name has to get people flocking to the stadium. When he's holding the Challenge Cup aloft on the Wembley pitch? *That* will get them coming through the turnstiles.

Although I appreciate your concerns - and, to be honest, I can't see myself supporting a 'Manchester' team - I think you're in danger of getting a bit Daily Mail and worrying about things that aren't happening. The club are still called Salford Red Devils. It says so on the website, it says so in the fixture lists and it says so in the e-mail I got from the club the other day. I don't think the 'Salford' name appeared on the shirt last year either, but no-one raised any concerns about it.

However, if you really are concerned, you could e-mail Martin Vickers and ask the question. I e-mailed him about something else yesterday and got a reply within hours.

Your reading comprehension must improve: I haven't said that I, personally, have a problem. My initial post was purely aimed at MR and TB dismissing other people so glibly. The rest is just a reasoned debate that's sprung out of said post. That is what a forum is for, no? Discussion?

Compare and contrast:

Any word on 'My Agenda' yet?

I can't seem to find it...

Regardless of the issue of the wording on the playing jersey (none of Brisbane Broncos, South Sydney and North Queensland Cowboys actually have thier name on the badge on the shirt - but they are all much more recognised brands in their markets), in my opinion, "Salford" being absent from branding on general merch [iweakens[/i the brand.

Many fans use merch to show their support and in turn help raise the profile of the club. Who do you think the average person on the streets of Greater Manchester would think somebody supported if they saw them wearing this?

You really can't be serious "two Post", "two much trouble" , "too People" and "two busy".........If I hadn't shaken his hand I'd swear mich was about six years old.