Latest news with #DarioBerta
The Guardian
4 days ago
- Business
- The Guardian
Salford Red Devils chief operating officer quits alleging she was told to ‘sleep with individual' at RFL
Salford Red Devils will launch an internal investigation after their chief operating officer resigned alleging she had been subject to 'misogynistic language' and told to 'sleep with an individual at the RFL' by the club's owners to alleviate their financial crisis. The Red Devils remain in trouble on and off the field, six months on from a takeover by a consortium led by businessman Dario Berta. Players and staff have repeatedly been paid late, the majority of their first-team squad have left and the club are in court next month to face an unpaid tax bill of almost £700,000. Supporters will protest against the club's ownership ahead of Sunday's game with Wakefield Trinity but the club is now embroiled in a fresh crisis. Claire Bradbury, who joined Salford from Sale Sharks last year, resigned at the start of this week before issuing a lengthy statement outlining the reasoning behind her exit. She wrote: 'It's important to share something more personal, as a senior woman in business. Misogynistic, inappropriate language from the ownership suggesting I sleep with an individual at the RFL to 'smooth things over' is not acceptable. 'At the time I stayed quiet because I wanted the club to succeed. I'm disappointed in myself that I didn't stand up to it then so I'm voicing it now as it should be heard for the integrity and evolution of rugby league, and for all women who work in sport.' In that statement, she also added: 'Repeated delays in salary payments, an absence of essential operational tools, and a lack of agreed structure, strategy, or investment have significantly impacted the ability of staff to perform their jobs effectively.' Salford responded to Bradbury's allegations by insisting that they will be undertaking an internal investigation. They said: 'It has been alleged by a former member of the Salford Red Devils staff, who departed the club on 12 August 2025, that she was subjected to inappropriate verbal conduct by the owners of the club. 'Salford Red Devils unequivocally condemns any and all forms of inappropriate language and behaviour. We treat such allegations with the utmost seriousness and are committed to ensuring that our club environment remains respectful, professional, and safe for all members of staff. 'In response to these allegations, we will be conducting a thorough internal investigation. We are determined to establish the facts and take any necessary action to address the situation. We will provide a detailed report of our findings as soon as the investigation is concluded.' The RFL, when contacted, said: 'Any language and suggestion of this kind is clearly offensive and unacceptable.' Salford are expected to be removed from Super League at the end of this season given their long-standing financial issues. More than 15 senior players have left for other clubs, some recouping transfer fees that have helped keep the Red Devils afloat and ultimately pay salaries. That has left Salford relying on academy products and loanees to fulfil fixtures, with a similar scenario likely for this Sunday. But a newly-formed supporters group are planning a peaceful protest before and during that game, with the club's owners the target.
Daily Mail
5 days ago
- Business
- Daily Mail
Female rugby chief quits after owner suggested she 'sleep with league boss' to help 'smooth over' club's financial woes amid mounting bills
Salford Red Devils chief operating officer Claire Bradbury has quit after alleging the owners suggested she 'sleep with an individual at the RFL' to 'smooth over' the club's financial predicament. The crisis-hit Super League outfit were taken over by a consortium led by businessman Dario Berta on the eve of the season. However, the club's struggles have continued on and off the pitch this season, with late wage payments, a player exodus and an upcoming winding-up petition for an unpaid tax bill of £500,000. Now Bradbury – who joined Salford from rugby union side Sale Sharks last October – has resigned from her role and taken aim at the owners in an extraordinary LinkedIn post, in which she makes the claim of a misogynistic comment. 'What was a dream job I'd worked so hard for and such a proud moment in my career, is one I can no longer do,' wrote Bradbury, who said she had not been paid her wages for July. 'Over recent months, the conditions under which I and my colleagues have been required to operate made it impossible for me to deliver my role to the standards I set for myself and for the club. 'It's important to share something more personal, as a senior woman in business. Misogynistic, inappropriate language from the ownership suggesting I sleep with an individual at the RFL to 'smooth things over' is not acceptable. 'At the time I stayed quiet because I wanted the club to succeed. I'm disappointed in myself that I didn't stand up to it then, so I'm voicing it now as it should be heard for the integrity and evolution of rugby league, and for all women who work in sport.' An RFL spokesperson said: 'Any language and suggestion of this kind is clearly offensive and unacceptable.' Daily Mail Sport has contacted Bradbury and Salford for comment. The Red Devils are currently bottom of Super League, with just two wins from 21 games, having lost 80-6 at Hull FC last Sunday. Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham said on Thursday that he was 'watching the situation very closely indeed'. 'The question is, what can be done to change things?' he added. 'Obviously a consortium came in promising to clear the debts and put significant investment in. But that clearly hasn't happened.' RFL chief executive Tony Sutton said last week that while Salford's financial woes were 'damaging and draining for the sport', the 'only alternative' to approving the takeover earlier this year was the 'very probable and immediate demise of the club'. Salford issued a statement on Monday insisting the club 'will not close'.
Yahoo
12-08-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Salford owners say club 'will not close'
Salford Red Devils' ownership group have said the beleaguered Super League club "will not close" despite their perilous financial state. A consortium led by businessman Dario Berta bought the club on the eve of the season, but frequent late wage payments, mass player exits, and a bruising season of defeats have overshadowed their 2025 campaign. Sunday's defeat at Hull FC followed a chaotic week in which Chris Hankinson, Chris Hill, Jack Ormondroyd and Ryan Brierley left the club, while a patchwork team of loanees was eventually beaten 80-6, conceding 14 tries in the process. In a statement issued late on Monday evening, the group said that bridge funding would be "available and settled" by the end of August, and that they remained "fully committed" to supporting the club sustainably. "We understand the frustration many fans feel. But we want to be clear: Salford Red Devils will not close," they added. "We have consistently met wage obligations under difficult conditions and continue to tackle over £3 million in inherited debt. Your patience and support are deeply appreciated as we work to return SRD to its rightful position in the sport." Ruthless Hull put 14 tries past makeshift Salford side The statement also said that "an essential £1.8m investment" from an external backer, which had been anticipated for November 2024 had failed to materialise in the lead up to their takeover. They also claimed that matters worsened when Salford City Council "unexpectedly withdrew" from negotiations to purchase the Salford Community Stadium home they share with rugby union side Sale Sharks. At the time, the council cut ties with Jacobson Management, a group who had been introduced to the stadium by representatives of the Red Devils' owners, as they were unable to carry out the required due diligence. Despite this, the consortium said they were still willing to resume discussions with the council over a possible purchase of the stadium. Salford, who have lost all but two of their 21 Super League games this season - conceding 940 points in the process - have six games of the campaign remaining. They also face a rearranged winding-up petition from His Majesty's Revenue and Customs (HMRC) on 3 September, having previously owed £500,000 before it was adjourned in June.
BBC News
12-08-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Salford owners say club 'will not close'
Salford Red Devils' ownership group have said the beleaguered Super League club "will not close" despite their perilous financial state.A consortium led by businessman Dario Berta bought the club on the eve of the season, but frequent late wage payments, mass player exits, and a bruising season of defeats have overshadowed their 2025 defeat at Hull FC followed a chaotic week in which Chris Hankinson, Chris Hill, Jack Ormondroyd and Ryan Brierley left the club, while a patchwork team of loanees was eventually beaten 80-6, conceding 14 tries in the process. In a statement, external issued late on Monday evening, the group said that bridge funding would be "available and settled" by the end of August, and that they remained "fully committed" to supporting the club sustainably. "We understand the frustration many fans feel. But we want to be clear: Salford Red Devils will not close," they added."We have consistently met wage obligations under difficult conditions and continue to tackle over £3 million in inherited debt. Your patience and support are deeply appreciated as we work to return SRD to its rightful position in the sport." The statement also said that "an essential £1.8m investment" from an external backer, which had been anticipated for November 2024 had failed to materialise in the lead up to their also claimed that matters worsened when Salford City Council "unexpectedly withdrew" from negotiations to purchase the Salford Community Stadium home they share with rugby union side Sale the time, the council cut ties with Jacobson Management, a group who had been introduced to the stadium by representatives of the Red Devils' owners, as they were unable to carry out the required due this, the consortium said they were still willing to resume discussions with the council over a possible purchase of the who have lost all but two of their 21 Super League games this season - conceding 940 points in the process - have six games of the campaign also face a rearranged winding-up petition from His Majesty's Revenue and Customs (HMRC) on 3 September, having previously owed £500,000 before it was adjourned in June.
BBC News
25-06-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Winding-up petition against Salford adjourned
A winding-up petition filed against beleaguered Super League side Salford Red Devils has been adjourned until had previously been reported, external the club owed £500,000 to His Majesty's Revenue and Customs (HMRC) as the club continue to battle a difficult season on and off the Radio Manchester reports, external the club are confident a bridging loan will arrive in the coming days to pay HMRC as well as are bottom of the Super League table having won just once in 15 league games so far this season. Their form comes in contrast to last season when they recorded a fourth-place finish under Paul Rowley and reached the play-offs in an impressive being taken over on the eve of the season by a consortium led by Swiss businessman Dario Berta, the club have been beset by have been paid late, key players including talismanic scrum-half Marc Sneyd have left, while chief executive Chris Irwin resigned after less than three months in the addition, Salford City Council pulled out of negotiations with the club over their attempt to buy their Salford Community Stadium home in May.A sustainability cap imposed on the club by the Rugby Football League has affected team selection, leading to the Red Devils fielding youthful sides and being on the receiving end of a record 82-0 defeat by St Helens at the start of the cap also led to centre Nene Macdonald taking unpaid leave earlier this month as he was restricted to just five appearances for the Red Devils.
