Stadium ownership has also been a key talking point within Super League but in an IMG era then it’s perhaps even more important, and for Salford Red Devils it’s the most important thing in the club’s history right now.
The Red Devils have confirmed that the club themselves are at risk of liquidation with their current stadium possibly at risk of being sold from under them, something that has now led to the RFL placing the club under ‘special measures’, per the Manchester Evening News.
Just over two weeks ago on the ninth of November the club released a statement surrounding the status of the stadium, in which they explained that for the past three years they had placed faith and understanding that their “cooperation would result in a timely and fair agreement on securing our future at the stadium”.
The club also highlighted that the stadium was specifically built for the club before explaining that their cooperation “has been misinterpreted as our consent for inaction by some officers in the Council”.
They went on to explain that for the past three years the club has remained at the stadium due to an “unfavourable lease agreement”, claiming it had hampered the club’s ability to “become self-sustainable and grow”.
As such the club is now financially struggling having ‘loaned and guaranteed to it’s limits’, thus explaining the sale of players but that ultimately their tenancy agreement ends on December 1st, less than one week away.
Should that date be passed then the club would be breaching minimum standards with the RFL, the necessity being to have a minimum 5-year tenancy agreement in place, and therefore the club could see such large central funding cuts that they may be liquidated.
It’s certainly a concerning time and now with confirmation from the MEN that the club have been put into special measures by the RFL concerning the finances, it’s another blow that brings closer to home the terrible situation Salford find themselves in,
Per the MEN the club were placed in special measures “due to the Rugby Football League having reasonable cause for concern relating to the club.”
The paper also claim that club have been involved in numerous meetings throughout the week, still hopeful that a resolution can be found.
The dispute in question over the ownership comes down to the fact the stadium is owned 50-50 between the council and property giant Peel, with Peel intending to sell their stake.
Dispute between council members over whether to buy that stake is what leaves the club in such a precarious situation, hence the introduction of special measures by the RFL according to the MEN.
Salford had contacted the MEN, releasing the following statement: “Special measures is a standard procedure that the RFL have in place for clubs that encounter any of a variety of financial issues. The club have been in positive dialogue with the RFL in relation to special measures being implemented, and are awaiting an outcome relating to the stadium discussions to establish if we can come out of them.
“We’ll continue to provide updates on the full picture when appropriate, rather than comment unnecessarily to each partial development.”