A group of Salford Red Devils supporters have said the rugby league club is being ‘left to rot’ and at risk of extinction due to a lack of investment from the owners.
A letter from Shirley Bradshaw, the chairman of the club’s supporters’ trust, accused the team’s owners and the Rugby Football League (RFL) governing body of a ‘total dereliction of duty’ to protect its future.
Salford Red Devils play at the city’s council-owned community stadium in Eccles and have a history stretching back 150 years.
The club has faced major financial difficulties in recent times and was hit with a sustainability cap in January, with the team ‘directed to sell’ players.
In February, the club confirmed a consortium had taken charge, with promises to clear its debts and put ‘significant’ investment in.
But the supporters’ trust chairman said these promises have not materialised, leaving the club on the brink of extinction and sitting bottom of the Betfred Super League with two wins in 20 matches.
Salford Red Devils and the Rugby Football League were approached for comment.
It is understood the department for culture, media and sport is monitoring the situation and in talks with the RFL about options to support the club.
Ms Bradshaw told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS): “We are at a crisis point, it’s disgusting what they are doing to the club. I’ve been a fan for over 60 years, and I’ve gone through save our Salford things a number of times, over the years and I’ve always had hope, but I’ve got no hope now that we’re going to be where we want to be in Super League.
“If we fold it would be devastating for the fans, we’re the only professional sporting rugby league club in the city and we’re just being left to rot. We just don’t know what to do as fans now.”
Last year, the LDRS revealed the scale of the club’s financial problems by sharing that the club had been given more than £500,000 in loans and grants from Salford council since 2022, and owed a historic debt of £1.5m.
The council’s £7.7m deal to buy the community stadium last year was also seen as a lifeline for the Red Devils, and a way of boosting the club’s matchday revenue.
But a statement from the club in March revealed a worrying situation when staff and players had not been paid.
Things went from bad to worse for the club when a proposed deal to buy Salford Community Stadium from the council fell through earlier this year.
There’s also the matter of a winding-up petition from His Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC) filed against the club, which has been reportedly adjourned to September.
The open letter from supporters’ trust was sent to Lisa Nandy, the secretary of state for culture, media and sport, as well as Salford council and the city’s MPs.
It stated: ‘The club ran into financial difficulties and at the start of this season the new owners promised investment in the club that has never arrived.
‘At the same time, the RFL imposed a sustainability cap, with restrictions on who we could play and the conditions that we sold players to stay within the cap.
‘As fans we questioned this, especially as it seemed to be more of a punishment rather than a realistic way to support the club through this difficult period.
‘The club and the RFL are not talking to us the fans and we are reaching out to you to help us save all we have achieved, as it is on the verge of being lost.’
The supporters’ trust also said there were ‘serious concerns’ about the health and wellbeing of players and staff at the club, claiming Salford Red Devils are having to rely on bringing in younger players to make up its matchday squads.
The letter continued: ‘The impact of the loss of our club would be felt right across our great city and beyond but you can hopefully also see the number of people that are involved and that can make a huge difference if given a chance.’
A spokesperson for Salford council said: “With a strong sporting heritage in Salford, we understand how uncertain this situation has been for supporters and those connected to Salford Red Devils.
“The council has been committed to working with the club to find solutions to the challenges they face, including a range of support. Our continued ambition is to see a Salford Red Devils which is financially sustainable and can continue to compete in the Super League.”
