I can't help thinking the problems at Salford ,which are not new, should have been discussed before expansionist London was forced back to the Championship.

Yes indeed. Great post. Another RFL masterstroke. Relegate a team in an expansion area whilst keeping a team that is very close to being bankrupt.



Oh and leave the issue dragging on to within 3 weeks of the start of the season.

We that was the point I saw.



2 days after the fixtures were announced, Salford cried broke.

They purposely, imo, held out so it was too late for the rfl and the img grading to have an affect on 2025 and guarantee they remained in SL despite the issue.

They have finally come to terms with their financial position :- https://www.loverugbyleague.com/post/sa ... r-revealed

They have finally come to terms with their financial position :- https://www.loverugbyleague.com/post/sa ... r-revealed

Hull have cooled on Sneyd, looks like he will go to Leigh.

I hope this triggers the governance function of the RFL* into action. Maybe verify that teams entering the season's competition will be financially viable for the duration of the season's competition BEFORE they are included in the fixtures. Simple examination of draft accounts supplied by chartered accountants and a bank statement would do it.



Salford should also be punished in their IMG grading for this to ensure no repeat. Their behaviour has not only affected them but could have buggered up the 2025 competition for all the other clubs by having an 11 team league.



*I notice the RFL has stopped publishing it's board minutes since October 2022.

Another vote possibly coming. When the original vote was made it was to exempt cap and quota. Now it seem maybe a vote to just exempt quota.

I can get on board with that, there is a precedent from similar instances in the past. Salary cap exemptions would have been crazy.

https://www.totalrl.com/salford-red-dev ... this-week/

https://www.totalrl.com/salford-red-dev ... this-week/

Last season it was estimated in the RL press that Salford spent approx £1.7m on their squad. If they need to reduce that to £1.2m then they need to shed £500k, do we think that there is that much slack across the rest of Super League? And that's before considering the individual salaries. The only way that Salford can do this, whilst still retaining any sort of a squad, is to start with the highest earners.



If Salford don't manage to complete a takeover deal very quickly then something needs to change. A dispensation in the cap rules or a climbdown by the RFL.

Salary Cap dispensation for clubs to sign Salford players being requested by Leeds:- https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/ ... st-4951555 If this happens, then the Sneyd to Wire rumour might have legs?

Salary Cap dispensation for clubs to sign Salford players being requested by Leeds:- https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/ ... st-4951555 If this happens, then the Sneyd to Wire rumour might have legs?

They seem big on this story over the Pennines "Manchester Club" ha ha.



Without getting over conspiratorial, Interesting that it's coming from Leeds......Ian Blease might know a thing or two, although having met him he's a belting bloke so he must be in a funny position.



I hope they get it sorted with this Australian takeover kicking in, but the article states "several weeks" well that doesn't fit the timescale with the start of the season looming. As others have stated it's a real problem that should have been put to bed at the end of last season to preserve the integrity of the competition.