News Beat
The costly demand that has held up a decision on Salford’s new ownership
A NEAR £200,000 fee is believed to have caused the delay over the new owners of Salford – as the race is down to two.
The Rugby Football League attracted huge criticism after putting Wednesday’s scheduled announcement of who will get the right to save a famous old name in the sport on hold.
But SunSport has learned the wait is over a fee demanded by the company running Salford Community Stadium.
Put simply, it is believed to have asked for £199,000 for the club to play there in 2026 – and none of the three groups looking to take it on had budgeted for that.
That meant talks over the week and weekend to thrash out a deal, with an agreed figure filling a huge hole in documents and sources say progress was made.
Now two – believed to involve former chief executive Chris Irwin and ex-player Mason Caton-Brown – have said they can afford it.
And it is understood a verdict is set to come either tomorrow (Mon) or Tuesday after CosCos, the firm responsible for running the 12,000-capacity venue and now controlled by the city’s council, met on Friday and informed the RFL of its agreements in principle.
Abi Ekoku, interim chief executive of the RFL, would not give Irwin, Caton-Brown or Kiwi Tracy Atiga – said to have not engaged in serious discussions – the thumbs up without terms being agreed in writing.
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Essentially, all submissions were regarded as incomplete.
The delay brought criticism as Salford are scheduled to kick off the Championship against Oldham on January 16.
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However, it is understood one group has agreements with about 20 players, while another proposes a wage budget of £250,000 after striking several commercial deals.
The Red Devils’ holding company was wound up over about £1.3 million of unpaid tax, plus other debts after they were predictably relegated from Super League through IMG’s grading scheme.
And whoever gets it may not be able to use the tag that provided the inspiration for Manchester United’s nickname, as it is in the hands of the liquidator.
