Salford's much-needed stadium deal nears completion, ending 'tragic' sales

SALFORD is close to receiving the cash flow it is looking for after securing a stadium deal.

The city council will take over former AJ Bell's 50 percent stake from current partner Peel after battling through bureaucratic hurdles.

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This will give the Red Devils access to money that has been denied to them for 12 years – since opening they have not made a penny from food and drink sales or guest bookings, which equates to around £150,000 a year.

Changes are likely to include the placement of a large screen in one corner with advertising facing the nearby M60 Barton Bridge, while other facilities could be placed around the site.

And mayor Paul Dennett told SunSport it could usher in a new era for the club, which is likely to reach the play-offs despite financial constraints.

It also means that the days of selling the best players – Oliver Partington is going to the Catalans, while Tyler Dupree, Andy Ackers and Brodie Croft also left to pay the bills – could be over.

He said: “The stadium is their home, we built the stadium for them. One advert said: 'We are building it as the home of the Salford Red Devils, to keep them in the city and in the Super League.'

“The other part is about them being able to generate revenue and, hand on heart, I think we can do better in our collaboration with the club.

“The inability to generate revenue from the stadium and its activities obviously limits the club's ability to make ends meet.

“And to see them sell their best players to survive and prevent them from continuing is tragic in many ways.

“The club is an institution in our city, this institution is important and the stadium could function a lot better. Am I frustrated? Yes.”

The deal with Salford City Council, which will pay £7 million to Peel in return for its share of the stadium and, more importantly, the surrounding land, will make the area, where Sale Sharks RU also plays, the rugby home of Greater Manchester.

This is likely to be signed off at a Cabinet meeting on Tuesday 3 September – a huge boost for the Red Devils off the pitch as they look to get the job done against Huddersfield today.

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But Chief Paul Rowley channeled his inner Corporal Jones and said, “Don’t panic.”

Salford are three points clear of Leigh in the final play-off spot with five games left and a 26-0 defeat to the Leopards raised concerns in the stands that they could fall out of the top six.

But Chief Rowley believes worrying is of no use to anyone, saying: “If anyone is panicking, they have not been where I am now. No one has panicked near me.”

“We are doing well, but that's the sport. It's very simple, especially the basics – you can't reinvent the wheel.

“There is no panic, but there is always pressure, internal pressure. We will deal with what we do and what we think within our group.”