Council pull plug on Red Devils buy home bid

Article posted by Coliseum, May 23^rd, 2025

Image: Salford Red Devils

The Salford City Council have pulled out of negotiations with the professional rugby league club Salford Red Devils over the club’s attempt to purchase their residence – the Salford Community Stadium in Barton-upon-Irwell, England (UK).

‘BBC SPORT’ stated that the Council, which owns the ground, cut ties with the Jacobson Management, a group who had been introduced to the stadium by the representatives of the Red Devils’ new owners – a consortium led by the Swiss businessman Dario Berta.

The Salford City Council is the local authority responsible for administering the City of Salford, a Metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England (UK). It provides a wide range of local Government services including those related to housing, waste management, planning, and community support.

The Salford Red Devils are a professional rugby league club in Salford, England (UK). They play their home games at the Salford Community Stadium in Barton upon Irwell and compete in the Super League, the top tier of British rugby league. The Salford Red Devils have won the League Championship six times and the Challenge Cup once.

The 12,000-capacity Salford Community Stadium is a rugby stadium in Barton-upon-Irwell, England (UK) built to replace the Salford rugby league club’s ground the now-demolished 11,363-capacity The Willows in Weaste, Salford, for the 2012 season.

The Rugby Football League Championship (known as the Betfred Championship for sponsorship reasons) is the second highest division of rugby league in Britain (with one team in the league also being based in France) after the Super League.

The EPCR Challenge Cup is an annual rugby union competition organized by the European Professional Club Rugby (governing body and organizer of rugby union tournaments). It is the second-tier competition for the clubs based in the European leagues.

‘BBC Sport’ further stated that a statement issued by the Mayor of Salford Paul Dennett said that the Council was not able to “progress negotiations” or carry out due diligence as required.

In response the club expressed their disappointment about how the decision would “impact negatively” on everyone connected with the club.

The stadium is currently shared by the Red Devils and the Premiership rugby union club Sale Sharks.

The Council reinforced its support for Salford and the importance of rugby league in the City highlighting their purchase of the stadium in the first place.

It also re-emphasized its commitment to working with the tenants at the stadium to ensure it “delivers” for the whole of the City.

The Council also wants to ensure a “stable and sustainable” home for the Devils.

But in light of this news Salford said that they would review “all available options” and would continue in its efforts to “stabilize” the club for the community.

It is the latest setback in a difficult season for the Red Devils.

Despite being taken over on the eve of the season by a consortium led by Swiss businessman Dario Berta they have been beset by problems.

Wages have been paid late, the key players have left while the Chief Executive Chris Irwin resigned after less than three months in the job.

Forced to field a weakened team with youngsters used to make up the numbers Salford have suffered a number of heavy defeats and are at the bottom of the Super League with one win from their 10 matches.

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