Talking with someone last night about whats going on at Salford and we couldn't get our head round why Koukash chose Salford.... The only thing we could come up with is they have a new ground.

When you think about it, he really missed a trick with not buying London. The RFL want a strong London, they would have bent over backwards to help him.

He could of bought them, built a ground, put them in whatever kit he liked, bought whoever he liked.. the RFL would probably have let him dance all over the salary cap with a team in London... if you're going to buy a club with hardly any fans, may as well buy one that you can build up from scratch.

if you had a shed load of cash, no affiliation to any rugby league club, but you loved the sport... who would you buy? Discounting all the big clubs, were looking at smaller clubs.

I think i would have gone for HKR.. they have a decent fanbase in a big city that loves its rugby, a bitter rival... With a new stadium and a good backer, they could probably pass 10,000 fans each week... obviously i wouldn't live in Hull though.

Doesn't he live in Merseyside, shorter journey to Salford than Hull and London.

broncos would have been a good fit with his other interests.

He lives in Rainford and likes the North West. When he first came to the UK, he was considering moving to London, but he found the people round here to be very friendly so stayed.

He is also starting to keep some of his horses in the grounds of Knowsley Hall and I believe one of his goals is to be a Racehorse Trainer within a couple of years and will use Knowsley Hall as his stables/facility.

I've very little doubt in my mind that all the open land around Salford's stadium was an attraction to him.

Perhaps the 'good' doctor was intrigued by the potential property development opportunities to be had in the neighbourhood? He certainly wouldn't get that in 'that there London' well certainly not to a budget

Whilst Barton appears to be out on a limb, Peel have plans for that area, a new docks, a racecourse etc huge potential and it seems that Koukash would like a stake.

Absolutely 'bang-on' Uncle Rico www.peel.co.uk/projects/portsalford

Absolutely 'bang-on' Uncle Rico www.peel.co.uk/projects/portsalford

Hull KR's a good shout. Craven Park needs some serious modernisation, but with their position in a city of 500,000 people and a big rugby culture, a bit of cash injected and some success should mean you'd be able to drag gates over 10k a week.

Quote ="Separate Ways"Hull KR's a good shout. Craven Park needs some serious modernisation, but with their position in a city of 500,000 people and a big rugby culture, a bit of cash injected and some success should mean you'd be able to drag gates over 10k a week.'" It is a shame that Tony Larvin never put his money where his mouth is at the start of the year- www.thisishullandeastriding.co.u ... z2ebHKISrM

Quote ="Separate Ways"Hull KR's a good shout. Craven Park needs some serious modernisation, but with their position in a city of 500,000 people and a big rugby culture, a bit of cash injected and some success should mean you'd be able to drag gates over 10k a week.'" It is a shame that Tony Larvin never put his money where his mouth is at the start of the year- www.thisishullandeastriding.co.u ... z2ebHKISrM

Salford is a far better prospect for a SL club than either London or Hull KR.

Koukash has made a good investment, if he knows what he is doing he will make them successful.

If I had unlimited funds, then I guess I would attempt a franchise either in Cumbria or South Wales - Potential for a decent, enthusiastic fanbase in either area, if done properly it could be a success.

Unfortunately, past attempts, especially in Wales, have been a tad amateurish, which is a barb you could aim at quite a few RL clubs.

Not really sure about London, its cosmopolitan nature means the potential fanbase isn't as big as some would imagine - Its a problem that Koukash might find in the Salford/Manchester area. You don't tend to find much interest among our ethnic community in RL, however much we might like to try and all integrate.

How does everyone think Salford will get on next season? My mate has bet me £20 they come in the top 4! 8th at best I would say. I hope they do well and continue to get stronger but wouldn't expect too much too soon.

Unlimited funds and I would (anonymously) buy Wigan and run them into the ground

Excellent idea I will buy Widnes then

The majority of their board seem to be plumping for 8th but I think they are hedging their bets and hoping for 6th and dreaming of top 4.

I would put them at 6th-8th and should be well in the play off mix

I think you're about right. 6th-8th would be quite reasonable after finishing bottom this year. The problem they will probably have is that some of their older players haven't got a great record with injuries over the past couple of years and there doesn't seem to be a lot of back up.

According to the Manchester Evening News, Marwan Koukash wants to buy Oldham Athletic and Oldham Roughyeds.

Which in respect of Oldham RL is great news. I read someone on another RL forum state they were sick of him and wished he would go to RU. He does make some daft statements at times, but generally he's good nes and a Koukash like figure at london and Wakefield wouldn't go amiss. My only gripe is that Nigel Wood is now doing some work for Salford. Forgotten about london and Wakefield, Nigel?

I'd buy Gateshead. They were never given a chance. They were severely under-funded and the plug was pulled far too soon after they had raised local crowds from 1,000 to 3,000 in one season. Kath Hetherington openly lied to the fans and left them with nothing, also letting down a number of sponsors who instantly washed their hands of Rugby League, never to return.
I was a small part of the group who initially re-formed the club, but on reflection I believe that we should have waited another 12 months and raised at least twice the capital we did. It's only in the past couple of years that they've been able to get any decent sponsorship.

If I had unlimited funds then I'd pay each club from SL* down to Championship level money to set up and properly run a youth development system. They'd have to engage with amateur clubs and school teams, both boys and girls, and instill values of lifelong participation in sport and the clubs role in the local community.

* - except Wigan. And Widnes. And St Helens. Oh, and Leeds. Not because I don't like them, more that they are doing it anyway. Well, maybe just a little bit because I don't like them.

Well i never knew that, either way, a pat on the back to you for your sterling efforts.

I loved gateshead away, and captain thunder.

Think the reason he bought Solly was because of the surrounding area and the developments that are going on and around in the future. Prime real estate! Would love to say its because he loves my club as much as me, but lets face it these money men only come in to make money, and this gets his foot well and truely in the door

Since they've rebranded themselves recently as "St. Helens RFC" rather than "St. Helens RLFC", I can only assume Saints wish they were a rugby union club. I'd therefore buy them, resign from the RFL and SL and grant them their wish by joining whatever tier of RU will allow them in.

I'd then sell them on, and return to watching RL happy to have seen the back of them.

If I was at a Bill Gates wealth, I'd give each club from the top three divisions 100 million each, the next three tiers 10 million each and watch all the top drawer Aussies come flooding over, the top drawer union lads coming over AND give the football youngsters something to think about when choosing a career path.

I don't see what is the problem with that. Buying an asset or liability is done with the view of making a profit. Rugby League needs to get past this Working Mens Club attitude and embrace the fact that sport is a business and potentially a lucrative one at that.

I never knew that either Teeside, you have gone up in my forum rating to 5*, well done.