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The Sun
07-05-2025
- Business
- The Sun
How Super League may work should stricken Salford go under this season
SALFORD'S chief executive Chris Irwin has left his role as rugby league chiefs may help them limp through this season if their cash crisis deepens. But work on operating with 11 teams should they go under has also been done, including introducing a points percentage table. 2 Administration or even a winding up order looms large over the Red Devils after a takeover by Sire Kailahi and Curtiz Brown turned into a disaster - it is believed they still think they can get it done in June. HMRC is set to decide its course of action over unpaid bills while the Rugby Football League is owed £500,000 with payday loan firms wanting money back. Its latest drama has seen Irwin, the man they brought in to turn the club into a powerhouse, depart, with players and staff being told yesterday he had 'resigned.' A short statement said: "We can confirm Chris Irwin's departure as CEO from Salford Red Devils, after accepting his resignation. "We thank him for his efforts. The journey continues – Reds Rise Together." That comes as SunSport understands tentative talks have been held about the governing body or Rugby League Commercial stepping in to make sure they at least complete the season. That would prevent a sporting mess as Salford going bust would mean some sides will play 25 matches and others 24, meaning a percentage table - like the one employed in 2020 and 2021 to cope with Covid-19 enforced postponements – may be brought in. SunSport believes a more natural Super League season with 11 teams had been devised until round six but at 10 matches in, the point of that being able to be employed has passed. It would also mean awkward conversations with broadcaster Sky, who may demand some of their broadcast deal back because of fewer fixtures, would be put off. Bosses are said to be holding 'multiple daily conversations' with Salford, who are still interesting other potential owners. 2 Kailahi and Brown have so far not put in the funding they talked about at the beginning of the season and six players have left after they waited for their wages in February and March, with April's just being paid on time following a scramble. And with no sign of attitudes changing, a repeat is possible in May. Administration, which would take any decision to sell the club out of their hands, would mean Salford are automatically relegated for next season under IMG's grading scheme. But liquidation cannot be ruled out, unless the owners put their money in or another person takes them on.
Scottish Sun
07-05-2025
- Business
- Scottish Sun
How Super League may work should stricken Salford go under this season
Plans drawn up in case club does not survive after takeover turned into a disaster NOTION'S 11 How Super League may work should stricken Salford go under this season Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) SALFORD'S chief executive Chris Irwin has left his role as rugby league chiefs may help them limp through this season if their cash crisis deepens. But work on operating with 11 teams should they go under has also been done, including introducing a points percentage table. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 2 Rugby league chiefs are working on plans should Salford's cash crisis deepen Credit: Administration or even a winding up order looms large over the Red Devils after a takeover by Sire Kailahi and Curtiz Brown turned into a disaster - it is believed they still think they can get it done in June. HMRC is set to decide its course of action over unpaid bills while the Rugby Football League is owed £500,000 with payday loan firms wanting money back. Its latest drama has seen Irwin, the man they brought in to turn the club into a powerhouse, depart, with players and staff being told yesterday he had 'resigned.' A short statement said: "We can confirm Chris Irwin's departure as CEO from Salford Red Devils, after accepting his resignation. "We thank him for his efforts. The journey continues – Reds Rise Together." That comes as SunSport understands tentative talks have been held about the governing body or Rugby League Commercial stepping in to make sure they at least complete the season. That would prevent a sporting mess as Salford going bust would mean some sides will play 25 matches and others 24, meaning a percentage table - like the one employed in 2020 and 2021 to cope with Covid-19 enforced postponements – may be brought in. SunSport believes a more natural Super League season with 11 teams had been devised until round six but at 10 matches in, the point of that being able to be employed has passed. It would also mean awkward conversations with broadcaster Sky, who may demand some of their broadcast deal back because of fewer fixtures, would be put off. Bosses are said to be holding 'multiple daily conversations' with Salford, who are still interesting other potential owners. 2 Salford, who saw Chris Atkin become the latest player to leave, may yet enter administration or be served with a winding up order Credit: Kailahi and Brown have so far not put in the funding they talked about at the beginning of the season and six players have left after they waited for their wages in February and March, with April's just being paid on time following a scramble. And with no sign of attitudes changing, a repeat is possible in May. Administration, which would take any decision to sell the club out of their hands, would mean Salford are automatically relegated for next season under IMG's grading scheme. But liquidation cannot be ruled out, unless the owners put their money in or another person takes them on.
The Irish Sun
07-05-2025
- Business
- The Irish Sun
How Super League may work should stricken Salford go under this season
SALFORD'S chief executive Chris Irwin has left his role as rugby league chiefs may help them limp through this season if their cash crisis deepens. But work on operating with 11 teams should they go under has also been done, including introducing a points percentage table. 2 Rugby league chiefs are working on plans should Salford's cash crisis deepen Credit: Administration or even a winding up order looms large over the Red Devils after a takeover by Sire Kailahi and Curtiz Brown turned into a disaster - it is believed they still think they can get it done in June. HMRC is set to decide its course of action over unpaid bills while the Rugby Football League is owed £500,000 with payday loan firms wanting money back. Its latest drama has seen Irwin, the man they brought in to turn the club into a powerhouse, depart, with players and staff being told yesterday he had 'resigned.' A short statement said: "We can confirm Chris Irwin's departure as CEO from Salford Red Devils, after accepting his resignation. "We thank him for his efforts. The journey continues – Reds Rise Together." That comes as SunSport understands tentative talks have been held about the governing body or Rugby League Commercial stepping in to make sure they at least complete the season. MOST READ IN RUGBY LEAGUE That would prevent a sporting mess as Salford going bust would mean some sides will play 25 matches and others 24, meaning a percentage table - like the one employed in 2020 and 2021 to cope with Covid-19 enforced postponements – may be brought in. SunSport believes a more natural Super League season with 11 teams had been devised until round six but at 10 matches in, the point of that being able to be employed has passed. Most read in Rugby League It would also mean awkward conversations with broadcaster Sky, who may demand some of their broadcast deal back because of fewer fixtures, would be put off. Bosses are said to be holding 'multiple daily conversations' with Salford, who are still interesting other potential owners. 2 Salford, who saw Chris Atkin become the latest player to leave, may yet enter administration or be served with a winding up order Credit: Kailahi and Brown have so far not put in the funding they talked about at the beginning of the season and six players have left after they waited for their wages in February and March, with April's just being paid on time following a scramble. And with no sign of attitudes changing, a repeat is possible in May. Administration, which would take any decision to sell the club out of their hands, would mean Salford are automatically relegated for next season under IMG's grading scheme. But liquidation cannot be ruled out, unless the owners put their money in or another person takes them on.
The Guardian
22-03-2025
- Business
- The Guardian
From one crisis to another: rugby league in dire need of real leadership
Remember Super League's historic trip to Las Vegas? The hype, the excitement and the feeling that after years of trying, perhaps British rugby league had finally broken a glass ceiling and could be set for a bright future? That all unfolded only three weeks ago, but given what has happened since, it feels like a lot longer. Few sports do off-field issues quite like rugby league, but even by its own ridiculous standards, these are unique times. It is perhaps pertinent to start with Salford Red Devils, given their very existence has appeared under threat of late. They have twice been placed in special measures by the Rugby Football League over the winter, the latest coming when their new owners failed to pay their players on time in February, days after a takeover of the club that had fuelled optimism. Clarity is desperately needed from the club's new owners. Their CEO, Chris Irwin – who has been left to front up to the media – insists March's pay will not be an issue as vital funding trickles in from overseas. But those financial incidents could now have an impact on their IMG grading, which determines which league a club are in, later this year, which in turn could leave them in danger of relegation. But will the involvement in rugby league of IMG, the sports rights giant, even be a thing come the autumn? Staggeringly, the notion of one of the game's 12 elite clubs failing to pay their players on time is not the most outrageous thing that has happened in recent weeks, with yet another boardroom crisis engulfing the RFL and threatening to undo all of the good work done lately. For the third time in under a decade, rugby league will be subject to a review of the professional game. In 2017, the clubs decided it was time for change and they paid the governing body's CEO, Nigel Wood, more than £300,000 to leave early. They brought in Robert Elstone and went through a review of the game. But by 2021, he had gone. The clubs then, in 2022, unanimously approved a 12-year strategic partnership with IMG, which included, naturally, a review of how rugby league was operating. IMG, which is paid about £400,000 to act as rugby league's partner, may now be pushed out after the clubs – yes, them again – decided they wanted more change at the RFL. Their plan? Oust the RFL chair, Simon Johnson, and bring back Wood – now the chair of Bradford – on an interim basis to lead … a strategic review of the professional game. Can you spot a theme? After eight years and seemingly endless reviews, the clubs, who now hold the power after giving themselves the right to bring back Wood, seem to be throwing the cards up in the air and seeing how they land. The optics surrounding Wood's return are terrible enough. You do not have to delve far to find a quote from an owner demanding it was time for change when Wood was on his way out, only to now be lauding his return as gamechanging. St Helens' owner, Eamonn McManus, said in 2018: 'No one can credibly say that Super League and the game of rugby league in this country has in any way strengthened or improved over the last decade; quite the contrary I'm afraid.' Now he says: 'There could be no better qualified or motivated person than Nigel Wood to grab the game by the scruff of the neck.' It feels a move of pure regression. But the problems run much deeper than one man. Along with Johnson, three more members of the RFL board quit, to leave just one man, the CEO, Tony Sutton. In a bid to remain quorate and comply with Sport England's Code for Sports Governance, an interim board was appointed: a sticking plaster, in effect. Failure to adhere to that code could lead to huge financial ramifications. The Department for Culture, Media and Sport, to which rugby league owes about £4m in Covid loans, is also watching closely. 'Given our investment and partnership with the RFL, we will work with its leadership to ensure public money continues to be used responsibly,' Sport England told the Observer. This is a sport lurching from crisis to crisis, with the clubs holding too much power. British rugby league desperately needs strong, stern leadership – whether it is Wood or someone else. Sign up to The Recap The best of our sports journalism from the past seven days and a heads-up on the weekend's action after newsletter promotion The hope was that Australia's National Rugby League would step forward. Its chief executive, Peter V'landys, has forged strong relationships with clubs such as Wigan and Warrington – who both abstained on the Wood vote – and indeed with Johnson. That has united the two competitions closer than perhaps ever before, and talk was really beginning to brew of an NRL investment in Super League. That may still happen. But the Observer has been told that the key figures in Australia are deeply unimpressed with yet more drama at boardroom level when the focus should be on the product. It remains to be seen whether any deal will collapse but you only have to look at International Rugby League's recent statement over Johnson's departure for a clue. IRL's chair, Troy Grant, said Johnson had been key to rebuilding the international board after 'a telling period of selfish amateur administration, lack of vision and strategy and poor governance'. The previous chair of IRL? Nigel Wood. Perhaps Wood will be the answer. The clubs seem to think he might be and, at a time when rugby league clubs are reliant on wealthy owners more than ever, they have a right to have a say. But if it feels like deja vu, then it probably is. At some point, someone beyond the clubs has to grip the game and show effective leadership or in three years, we will be back here again.
Yahoo
15-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Salford promise 'good times' despite funding issues
Chief executive Chris Irwin insists cash-strapped Salford Red Devils will not enter administration and that "good times will come", but says the club must rebuild trust in the rugby league world. The beleaguered side, who are bottom of the Super League table after four defeats in four, were placed back under sustainability cap restrictions last week amid continued financial uncertainty following a proposed takeover. Delays in funds being transferred by the investment group headed by Swiss banker Dario Berta led to February's wages for players and staff being held up. "It's been a really tough four weeks but we are still fighting and are confident we will come out of this well," Irwin told BBC Radio Manchester. "In terms of the large funds that we are hoping will come over and really elevate the club and take the club on, we will be waiting for those funds a bit longer than we had hoped for. "However, through March we will be fine. And come April we hope we can really kick on - on the pitch and off the pitch too." A shortfall in money coming from overseas meant Salford asked for financial assistance from the Rugby Football League in the short term. Irwin said the funding was there but could only be transferred in chunks and that the RFL "needs to see liquidity in our account" before the club will have the sustainability cap lifted. The uncertainty has already seen key player Marc Sneyd leave and caused "massive issues". "The turbulence with funds not landing have made players and staff worry and start to question things," Irwin added. "It was a huge blow to lose Sneydy. "We need to build trust again not just with our players, fanbase and commercial partners, but the Super League clubs as well. "We need to back ourselves up. For too long we've been a burden on Super League. "I apologise on behalf of the ownership group. But stick with us as we will come through it. Good times will come."
