Rugby is in 'national crisis' as Salford moves closer to a much-needed stadium deal

SALFORD have got the stadium deal they wanted – and hopes are growing they will get the money needed to ensure they do not fall victim to rugby's 'national crisis'.

The city's council has agreed to a £7 million buyout from current joint venture partners Peel – placing a total value of £14 million on what is now the Salford Community Stadium – which would provide access to much-needed cash .

But while Mayor Paul Dennett told SunSport he will do everything he can to ensure the Red Devils – strangled by red tape over the past year – get through to avoid a 'tragedy', the financial state of both codes greater than those of one authority. .

He said: “Both rugby codes are really struggling. The government has poured money into the league just to keep the clubs and the sport alive.

“There is a national crisis in rugby at the moment. Salford City Council is not going to solve this alone.

“So we need to work with companies like Sport England, the Rugby Football League and the Department for Culture, Media and Sport to come up with a strategy to support rugby in the right way.

“It would be tragic if the city of Salford were to lose a 150-year-old institution. We must do everything we can to support the club. Together with this great club we can achieve great things.

“It is an institution that has emerged from the city of Salford for the city of Salford. That's the kind of institution I believe in.

“Without this club we lose so much. You really can't put a price on that positive social impact – that's what we fight for.

“And we will have to try to support this club in whatever way we can, there is no doubt about that. We have to keep them alive.”

As things stand, Salford gets nothing from food and drink sales or car parking and cannot make any deals that affect the stadium.

They have been so hamstrung under the terms of the original contract since it opened in 2012 that they have to pay extra to open three stands on a matchday.

As a result, revenues don't match expenses, creating a gap that resulted in the sale of three top players – Tyler Dupree, Brodie Croft and Andy Ackers – driving down 2024 season ticket sales.

With a new 10- to 15-year lease being drawn up – which would give access to a pot of up to £2m of public money after a community share bid raised more than £360,000 – Dennett criticized the way things had worked. .

He added: “My frustration is how slowly it is happening before we work with our partners to sell the land around it.

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“The original vision was that the land sale would pay for the stadium. That's what we thought would happen – but it hasn't been thrown away yet and it's gotten us to where we are today.

“In 2009/10 we decided to build a stadium and create a home for Salford to keep them in the Super League and also generate income. We've done some, but not all.

“I think the way you develop a city and run a stadium are different things, but because of the legal structure we have a situation where they coexist and tension between those two worlds.

“Once we make this deal, it's about separating them. Hopefully Peel will agree to this soon and we will have our community stadium.”