Salford Red Devils fans have accused the club’s owners of ‘insulting’ supporters who have ‘kept this club alive for generations’.
It came after the club’s owners shared a statement saying ‘new funding’ has been secured to help protect the club’s immediate future, after a season of turmoil on and off the pitch.
But in a response from fan protest group The 1873, supporters urged the ownership group to ‘leave the club before it is too late’.
They said fans will ‘not renew season tickets, purchase merchandise, or attend matches’ under the current owners.
It comes after a winding up petition from HMRC over unpaid debt was adjourned in the High Court for 14 days, the third postponement this year to proceedings.
Salford Red Devils finished bottom of Super League last season after a campaign marked by problems.
The team was relegated to the Betfred Championship where it aims to compete in 2026.
But The 1873 fan protest group has now launched a petition urging Salford council and the Rugby Football League (RFL) to take action to support their campaign for a change in ownership.
More than 1,000 people have signed the petition, which calls for ‘urgent intervention to safeguard the very existence of our historic club.’
Supporters are calling for Salford council to end its tenancy agreement with the rugby league team, which plays at the council-owned Salford Community Stadium.
They are also demanding the RFL ‘act immediately by revoking the club’s membership’, which they believe could help facilitate a change in ownership at the crisis-hit club.
The petition stated: ‘We acknowledge both organisations may be cautious about how such actions appear but this petition demonstrates clearly and unquestionably that supporters want this intervention.
‘We expect leadership that reflects the will of the fans and protects the future of professional rugby league in Salford.’
Connor Robinson, from the 1873 group, said: “If the council pulled the tenancy agreement that they have with the club at the moment to play at Salford Community Stadium, then that automatically would allow the RFL to withdraw their membership as well because without a stadium or a tenancy agreement to play they can’t fulfil the membership criteria.
“That would allow a new community-focused club to start up and gain that tenancy agreement and gain that membership with the RFL.
“Them repaying the debt and starting afresh at zero bank balance doesn’t appease the supporters, we just want them gone now.
“Supporters would rather the club was wound up and liquidated and started afresh, with our own community backed venture, rather than start afresh with these guys.”
Rob Parkinson, from the Devil in the Detail podcast, said: “The way it stands at the moment, you’ve got no players, no coach, and the season starts in January.
“With everything that’s gone on I think a fans phoenix club would probably be the way forward.
“Fans are passionate about the club and they’ll get behind that, but we’ll have to wait two weeks to see what happens.”
Salford Red Devils and the RFL were approached for comment.
In a statement from the club’s owners on October 29, they announced that ‘new funding has been formally secured’ and is expected to be available to the club in the next 12 days.
This is to settle ‘all outstanding debts with our local creditors, clearing our balance with HMRC, and facilitating the formal withdrawal of the winding-up petition.’
The statement continued: ‘While winding up may have presented a simpler financial solution, it would have come at a significant cost to the local businesses, many of which are owned and operated by our loyal supporters, who have stood by us through challenging times.
‘We have chosen the more difficult path to protect these vital pillars of our community, ensuring they can continue to trade and thrive alongside us.’
In a joint statement, the Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, and Salford City Mayor, Paul Dennett, said they were ‘disappointed’ by the court’s decision to adjourn proceedings in the HMRC case.
They added: “This is the third delay to this case this year, and the ongoing uncertainty has been deeply unsettling for supporters, players, and staff who care passionately about the future of this historic club.
“We recognise how difficult this continued situation is, and we firmly believe that a decision should have been made today to support the best interests of securing the financial future of Salford Red Devils.
“It is increasingly difficult to see how repeated delays serve the best interests of Salford Red Devils or the wider rugby league community.
“We will remain in close contact with the Rugby Football League and other partners to ensure that the clubs’ proud 152-year history is secured.”
