SALFORD’S name may be saved by a new consortium – if the current club goes under.
October 29 is D-Day as a twice-adjourned winding up petition brought by HMRC over debts of at least £626,000 – more likely to be closer to £800,000 – will be heard.
A £5 million bridging loan owners Isiosaia Kailahi and Curtiz Brown said would come to secure the last delay has not materialised.
And proposed investment from Kiwi Tracy Atiga may not be enough to touch the sides of that and other debts on top of that, with the total believed to approach £6 million.
But SunSport has been told a group is ready to lodge an application to the Rugby Football League as an interested party to take on the Salford name if the existing business is wound up.
Former chief executive Chris Irwin and deputy mayor of the city, Cllr Jack Youd, are thought to be prime movers. Agent Graeme Taylor and former Warrington chairman, Prof Steven Broomhead, are said to be advising.
If it comes to fruition, Salford will operate as a basic part-time club in the Championship, with a wage budget of about £500,000 in 2026.
But as off-field income grows – at the moment, the Red Devils have none – the wage bill will increase with a view to eventually going full-time and challenging to regain their Super League spot.
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And the new company will have tenancy at the Salford Community Stadium, which the current club may not.
18 players and now boss Paul Roeley have left as the calamitous ownership of Kailahi and Brown left the club a shell.
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After Salford’s relegation was confirmed after they ranked 15th in rugby league’s IMG grading scheme wasn’t confirmed, anyone left is technically a free agent.
Super League new boys York, Toulouse and Bradford are set to look at picking off anyone left.
