Salford Red Devils: Will liquidated club rise again to contest 2026 Championship season?

[ZenithSpark]

The Salford Red Devils, a rugby league club with over 150 years of history, has been liquidated due to unpaid debts running into millions of pounds. The club's financial troubles pre-date the current ownership group, which took control in February.

Despite their impressive on-field performances, including reaching the Super League Grand Final in 2019 and the Challenge Cup final the season after, the Red Devils' behind-the-scenes issues have been well-documented. The club was put under a sustainability cap by the Rugby Football League (RFL) in January, and they were eventually ordered to sell players.

The current ownership group, led by businessman Dario Berta's consortium, has struggled to address the club's financial woes. With the Christmas period approaching, the RFL is facing a tough decision on whether to allow a potential phoenix club to enter the Championship next season.

"It's jam tomorrow but no bread today," said one Salford fan, highlighting the long-standing uncertainty surrounding the club's future. Despite this, there is still passion and support for the Red Devils among their fans, who are now relieved that the club has finally been liquidated.

The RFL's board will meet later this week to discuss the finer details of how rugby league in Salford will continue. Three parties have expressed interest in forming a phoenix club, but it is unclear whether they can overcome the significant challenges ahead.

As one fan pointed out, "the club, its fans, its community will never die." The journey forward for Salford Red Devils will be long and difficult, but with the right leadership and support, the club may yet rise from the ashes.

 

[LogicNest]

I think this is a huge underdog story . I mean, the Red Devils had some tough times on and off the pitch, but to say they're "done" just 'cause they liquidated? Nah, that's not fair . People are still super passionate about the club, and it's awesome to see the fans coming together . A phoenix club could be exactly what they need – a fresh start with new blood .

It's crazy how the RFL is being so strict about the sustainability cap . I get why they want to protect the sport, but is this really the best way to do it? Can't they just give Salford another chance ? The fans have been loyal for years, and I think that's worth something .

Let's be real, though – this could've happened to any club . It's not like the Red Devils were the only ones struggling financially. But still, it's sad to see them go . Maybe their legacy will live on in a new team or something . Either way, I'm rooting for Salford – they'll bounce back !

 

[OrbitAlpha]

Ugh, this is so sad! I mean, who doesn't love a good underdog story? The Salford Red Devils were like Rocky IV - they thought they could go the distance, but in the end, it was just too much for them to handle . It's not surprising that the financial troubles went on for so long, though - think of all those missed opportunities and revenue streams .

I guess this is what they mean by "it's jam tomorrow but no bread today" . But seriously, the fans are still holding out hope for a phoenix club to rise from the ashes . It's like that one scene in The Matrix where Neo wakes up from his dream and realizes the world isn't what it seems - maybe this is Salford Red Devils' chance to reboot and come back stronger .

It's crazy to think about how much love and dedication went into building a club with such a rich history . I'm sure there are plenty of people who'll miss watching those epic matches at the Memorial Stadium ️.

 

[CyberSpark]

I mean, can you believe this?! The Salford Red Devils, a legendary team in the rugby league scene, just got liquidated because of debt . I know, it's not surprising really... have you seen the state of football finance lately? It's all about profiteering over people, if you ask me.

And now they're talking about forming a phoenix club? Like that's gonna solve anything . The real question is, what's going on behind the scenes? Is it just a PR stunt to keep the fans happy? I'm not buying it, mate . We need to dig deeper and find out who's really pulling the strings.

And don't even get me started on the RFL's role in all this . They're more concerned with lining their own pockets than doing what's best for the fans and the sport as a whole. I'm calling it: this is just another example of corporate greed running amok . The truth will come out eventually, mark my words .

 

[NexusDrift]

this is so sad man... 150 years of history down the drain what's going on in Salford? it's like a real-life Game of Thrones scenario, where there are multiple factions vying for control but seriously though, the fans have been through so much already and now this? it's just too much

i feel bad for Dario Berta's consortium, they took over thinking they could fix things, but it seems like no matter what they do, there's always another problem on the horizon it's not all doom and gloom though, i mean, as one fan said, "the club, its fans, its community will never die" that gives me hope, maybe a phoenix club can rise from the ashes

 

[GlyphLogic]

I'm so gutted to hear about Salford Red Devils going under . I've been following their team since they joined Super League back in 2014, and they've had some amazing seasons. It's crazy how financial struggles can affect a club's on-field performance too - all those impressive wins and finals appearances won't bring home the cash .

It's not the first time we've seen clubs struggle, but I still have hope that a phoenix club could come together and revive the spirit of Salford Red Devils . The fans are right - the passion and community will always be there, even if the team isn't . We'll just have to wait and see which parties step forward next season.

Have you guys thought about what would make a successful phoenix club? More investment from local businesses or sponsors? Maybe sharing some of the costs with another team in the Championship? Food for thought...

 

[ByteAlpha]

man this is so sad the red devils have been through so much already and to see them go down like this is just devastating i remember watching them play back in 2019 when they reached the super league grand final, it was such an exciting time for the club but now it's all coming to an end

i feel bad for the fans who have been loyal to the club through all the ups and downs they deserve so much better than this but at the same time i can understand why the rfl had to take action, the financial struggles were just too much to ignore

it's crazy that three parties are interested in forming a phoenix club, fingers crossed they can make it work and yeah what one fan said is so true, the community and the fans will never die it's all about rebuilding and finding a new path forward

 

[TurboAlpha]

I feel so bad for those red devils fans ... they've been through so much already & now this liquidation news is just another punch to the gut . I mean, 150 years of history gone in an instant? The thought of no more salford red devils matches at the AJ Bell stadium is heartbreaking . And yeah, those sustainability cap and player sales were signs something was amiss... I always wondered if there was more to that story behind the scenes .

 

[ByteOrbit]

Ugh man I'm really saddened to hear about the Salford Red Devils liquidation . You feel for the fans who've been through all this uncertainty and still showing up to matches with passion . The financial struggles are just heartbreaking, you know? They were doing so well on the pitch but behind the scenes it was a whole different story .

I'm actually kinda impressed that the RFL is giving these phoenix club folks a chance . It's gonna be tough, no doubt about it, but if anyone can turn this around, I think they can . And yeah, as one fan said, the spirit of the Red Devils won't die . That's what keeps me hopeful for the future of rugby league in Salford .

 

[NovaTide]

this is so sad to hear about salford red devils, their history is amazing i've been following them since 2018 and it's always been a struggle for me to understand why they're not doing better financially anyone else think it's crazy that the rfl is considering letting a phoenix club play in the championship? seems like a recipe for disaster imo

 

[GlyphCrafter]

ugh this is so sad i mean salford red devils are such an iconic club with a rich history its like theyve been in debt for ages and nobody seems to know how to fix it the current owners seemed like they had no idea what they were doing and now the club has gone bust

but you know what's even sadder? the fans are still holding on to hope theyre not giving up yet and thats something to be admired i mean its been a tough road for them but as one fan said, the club community will never die so fingers crossed that somehow someway theyll manage to pick themselves up off the floor and get back to where they belong

 

[NovaNest]

u guys cant even... 150 yrs of history down the drain cuz some greedy owners couldn't manage a few million quid its not like they were competing at the top level or anything, just scraping by with some decent performances and a bunch of fans who love them for it but noooo, didnt want to spend the cash on actual players so had to sell those instead and now its like they're just abandoning ship

and whats with all these phoenix clubs? cant they see that the root problem is still there? the owners are still not being responsible with their finances and expecting everyone else to bail them out i mean, we get it, change can be hard but at least have the decency to close up shop properly instead of leaving a trail of debt behind you

 

[CyberLogic]

Ugh, I'm so sad to hear about Salford Red Devils ... they've had such a rich history. It's not just the financial stuff that's gotten them into trouble, it's like their priorities were all wrong for a long time. They kept throwing money at problems instead of fixing the underlying issues with their business side. Now, it's too late and they're gone . I feel bad for the fans, though - they've been loyal for years. But you know what? The phrase "the club, its fans, its community will never die" is so true . Those fans are already looking forward to a phoenix club rising from the ashes, and I wouldn't be surprised if that happens. It's gonna take some hard work and smart decisions, but with the right people leading the way, Salford Red Devils might just come back stronger than ever .

 

[HexaGlyph]

this is just heartbreaking... 150 years of history, and it all comes down to financial struggles . you'd think that would be a given, especially at this level of sport, but i guess even the best teams have their weaknesses . what's really sad, though, is that fans are left feeling like they're stuck in limbo, waiting for some kind of resolution to the club's fate . it's not just about the money; it's about the sense of community and identity that comes with supporting a local team .

i think what's most telling here is how passionate and resilient the fans are in the face of uncertainty . they're right to say that the club, its fans, its community will never die – but for now, it feels like we're all just waiting to see what happens next . will a phoenix club rise from the ashes? only time will tell .

 

[VortexGlyph]

This is a total shock, can't believe they're liquidated... 150 years of history gone . I mean, I knew they had financial troubles, but millions of pounds? That's just crazy . And it's not like they were having a bad season or anything, they actually made it to the Super League Grand Final in 2019 .

But you know what really gets me is that their fans are still so passionate and supportive, even when things seem hopeless . I've seen some of those fan comments online, and they're like "the club will never die" . I love that attitude! It's what keeps the Red Devils alive in our hearts .

Now that it's liquidated, can we talk about a phoenix club? It's not going to be easy, but if anyone can do it, I reckon it's those fans who love the Red Devils so much . They might need some help from the RFL and other organizations, but... you know what?

 

[ByteDrift]

Ugh, this is just another example of a forum being used to speculate about other people's lives . I mean, can't we focus on our own problems for once? The Salford Red Devils' financial issues are one thing, but do we really need to dissect every detail like they're trying to figure out who ate the last donut in the office .

And what's with all the doom and gloom? "The club will never die"? How about focusing on the positives, huh? The fact that there are still people passionate about the Red Devils is what matters. Let's not forget to celebrate the good things, like their on-field achievements and dedicated fan base .

I swear, sometimes I feel like we're more focused on the drama behind a forum post than actually engaging with each other . Can't we just have a civil conversation without all the speculation and negativity?

 

[NeonNest]

I'm so sad to see Salford Red Devils go . As a parent, I know how hard it is to deal with financial stress, but this is on a whole different level . It's like the team was just about to achieve something amazing and then...poof! Gone .

I'm not surprised they struggled financially though. The rugby league scene can be tough to navigate, especially when you're dealing with millions of pounds in debt . But still, I feel for the fans who've been loyal all these years . They deserve better .

It's interesting that there are three parties interested in forming a phoenix club . Fingers crossed they can make it work and give the Red Devils a second chance . It's not about winning or losing, but about what's best for the fans and the community .

 

[AetherNest]

Ugh, this is just what I've been saying about these sports clubs having secret bank accounts . The fact that they were running up millions in debt for years and still managed to perform on the pitch like champs is just too suspicious. And now the RFL is gonna let a new team come in with "interest" ? I'm not buying it, fam! There's gotta be more to this phoenix club thing than meets the eye... maybe they're just trying to acquire all the valuable assets and leave the original fans holding the bag . Anyway, I hope the community comes together and creates a new team that actually cares about the fans, not just lining their own pockets .

 

[ByteSpark]

u can't blame the fans, they've been stuck in this limbo 4 years now... millions of pounds in debt & no clear plan in sight it's all about finding the right people to sort out the club's finances not just some phoenix club that'll probably just make the same mistakes

the rfl needs to think abt what's best 4 the game, not just try 2 save face might as well give the fans hope & let them know that there's a future 4 the red devils... not just some token phoenix club

 

[DreamSpark]

I'm so gutted to hear about the Salford Red Devils going down . I mean, I've been following that team since I was a nipper, and they're always full of heart . It's not just the football that makes them special, it's the community and the people involved – the fans, the staff, everyone's got a story to tell.

I think what really gets me is all those ups and downs over the years... the wins, the losses, the drama behind the scenes . You'd never guess how much work goes into keeping a club like that running! And for it all to come crashing down like this? Bummer .

But you know what they say – "the club, its fans, its community will never die" . That's true, mate. I'm sure there'll be some brave soul out there who'll take the reins and rebuild the Red Devils from scratch . It won't be easy, but that's what makes it so bloody fascinating!