ABI Ekoku has defended the Rugby Football League’s handling of the Salford shambles – and having them kick off the Championship season.
Three groups are looking to take on the now-folded club and SunSport understands hopes of two getting together have been dashed.
Many complaints surrounding how Isiosaia ‘Sire’ Kailahi and Curtiz Brown got their hands on the Red Devils – who may not be tagged the Red Devils under new owners – in the first place.
But as SunSport revealed, a statement from Australia’s Commonwealth Bank, certified by an independent accountant, was presented.
And Ekoku, the RFL’s interim chief executive, insists its procedures were good enough.
He said: “I’ve seen the due diligence that was carried out by the RFL and it was pretty good, it met what you’d call fit and proper standards.
“The process the RFL went through, and the checks that it carried out at that time, were the right checks.
“The club had promises of finance that were coming through, and there was documentation to support that.
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“But then you’ve got a fixture list which you need to preserve as well. So, it was really that Salford survived to the end of the season, because of the other Super League clubs – they needed them to.
“And from an operational standpoint, they fulfilled all their obligations, apart from that one game which could happen to any club at any time, they met their obligations.”
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Groups involving former chief executive Chris Irwin, ex-player Mason Caton-Brown and Kiwi Tracy Atiga must supply final paperwork by 5pm today as they look to take on the club.
A formal decision will be announced on Wednesday but Ekoku believes some good can emerge from the mess – and it was not a risk putting them down against Oldham in the Championship’s first game on January 26.
He added: “Where the positivity is now, it’s out of that out of those ashes, we’ve got three consortia that have put in formal expressions of interest.
“It’s not often you get three different parties interested at the same time, but all the core foundations are there.
“We’ve got a stadium and a fantastic civic buy-in from Salford City Council.
“When you’ve got that level of civic buy-in and support, it means that you’ve got preferential rates to start, and it gives that solidity and sustainability to a club. The key thing for the sport is sustainability.
“When we drew up the fixtures, we were aware there was interest and if you flip it the other way and you say, ‘Use that game, opening game of the season, massive goodwill, get the biggest crowd that Salford have had for the last five years.’
“We’re pretty confident. There’s no failsafe, but you’ve got to take a risk.”
