I don't often post on here but I'm always amused by the polarised nature of opinion concerning 'Mr Salford'. So here's, hopefully, a more balanced take:

1) the organisation at Salford has been risible for as long as I can remember and, if anything, has actually got worse in the last few years. The debacle of the final ever game at The Willows and the abject failure of our marketing team to use this as a launch pad for the move to the new ground was Salford's 'Waterloo' in my opinion.

If I read one more comment from a club employee referring to "five year plans," "exciting futures," "limited budgets" and "marketing concepts" I may well spontaneously combust. Do these people really believe they are so very clever and we are so very stupid? Stop insulting our intelligence and start focusing on the basics that don't cost money: start answering emails and addressing customer concerns, rather than giving people no option but to rant on the Facebook page, and start feeding the local press with some positive stories.

On a wider level there's been a whiff of incompetence from both the front office and the football department for years: poor signings, false promises, financial cock-ups and jobs for the boys.

Wilkie appointed these people and, one assumes, approved these decisions so has to carry the can.

[uBut.....[/u

2) if the interminable 'takeover' saga has taught us anything over the past few months it's this: there aren't 'white knights' lurking on street corners in Salford just waiting for the right black hole to pour their hard earned cash down. People don't generally 'invest' in rugby league clubs unless they've a burning desire to lose stacks of money or they have more nefarious ideas about how to drain cash from a failing sports club.

Put simply, the reason Wilkie has been able to preside over "30 yrs of failure" is that nobody else was willing to subsidise our basket case of a club during that time, and we have to be grateful to him for that if nothing else.

Now you do know this isn't the place for such a sensible post.

Another 'truth'. Ace.

All that was ever required was to read this forum and he'd be closely chasing apple on the nasdaq.

It's seemingly the easiest job in the world, running a rugby league club in Salford, yet he somehow blew it.

Fear not, someone with foresight and a really good printer (one that does REALLY glossy posters) will be along any minute to show everyone what we already know: it's piece of p*ss running this club.

Well put

Thanks for your input, Punch. Hopefully Judy will be along in a minute with her ten bobs worth.

By the way, I don't think anyone on here would suggest that running this rugby club is ever likely to be EASY.

But I do think the general consensus is that it could be run MUCH BETTER.

You my friend are one massive cock!!!!

Playing to your strengths, as per.

Of course it's easy.

- Better Marketing
- Better Team
- Better Crowds
- Better Website
- Better Merchandise

There. Like I said, piece of p*ss. Can someone just get on with it please?

Ok - put them in order and give me a business plan that shows the interdependencies and how you'd fund the initial investment needed!!

It may have escaped your attention but there are already people employed to do these things (along with the many other things that need doing).

I realise from your user name that you must be a very clever man but the rest of us mortals (ie, paying customers) are entitled to an opinion on the quality of the product. Is that ok?

Exactly the same as you then? With your petty, smarmy I'm better than you remarks. You are so far up your own ar*e its unreal, even in the clubs current predicament you still fail to see/acknowledge the failings of club and instead come on here with your sarcastic remarks and comments.

I was recently reminded that Cantona had been at Old Trafford 20 years ago which reminded me of the 'nepotism' just over 30 years ago when Martin Edwards took over as Chairman at the 'richest club in the world'.He tried to sell it to such people as Robert Maxwell,now a deceased disgraced tycoon,Ruper Murdoch, and Michael Knighton who went to a smaller club and destroyed them.There was also his peccadilloes which brought the club into a little disrepute.
Neither 'big' soccer club is owned,now,by a local man.
I don't think,after 30 years,any of the previous soccer club owners could compete in the current environment in that sport.
Over 30 years of JW has left Salford in a better position than many other clubs.
With councils losing money to Icelandic Banks [url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-17396175Here[/url
and other councils losing money [url=http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/liverpool-news/local-news/2010/09/27/bt-overcharging-liverpool-council-by-10m-a-year-report-claims-100252-27347703/Here[/url it may be of benefit if supporters indicated their willingness to match the council loan of 750k - only 750 supporters with a grand to spare - to perhaps win over some public goodwill and give a demonstration of support which may come to the notice of a future investor.
Some can afford more - some can only manage a little less.All it would take,perhaps,a photograph of the playing surface at Barton,each area sectioned off and each area sponsored by a supporter for a small fee.Each one having their name in the programme.
The council already have plans to save a million pounds [url=http://www.salford.gov.uk/pr-12-3280.htmStory[/url

What has happened cannot be changed.What should happen is the coaching staff and the wonderful players who have shown remarkable fortitude,patience and discipline should know every supporter is trying their best to assist.Someone think of something and lets get going....

For most of Edwards' "reign", neither were United, being a PLC.

Can anybody recall how far the original Forever Reds "Thousand Club" got towards its aim of 1000 fans raising £100 each?

Iain
I have the original forms somewhere but from memory I'd say less than 200.

We had 1,000 badges made

Which is why we would struggle to have a supporter run part in the Club.

Hmmmm and nothing on that list requires the missing element - MONEY!

If Wilko walked away with his money today, people would suddenly realise no club tomorrow.

I'm sure all sports fans want an oil man or a city man to pour millions or billions in, but without the green stuff, all the plans in the world will only make at the very best marginal difference.

Good luck Salford, there but for the Grace of passionate and wealth Chairmen and boards go nearly the rest of the sporting world.

Actually, no. I'd rather have a sustainable club not built on sand and the good fortune of one man/group - even if said club has to find a realistic level to play and operate at.

Ok slight error, scrub all, instead put the majority of