bobsmyuncle wrote:
A scenario that might fit the current drip of information is one that was espoused to me a several months ago by a family member from over the Pennines.
Koukash to re-site his club- Salford Reds at odsal, presumably with a name change.
Q. are there any RFL regulations that would preclude a) the name change & b) the move.
The silence is deafening is it not Gents? There is clearly lots going on behind the scenes. That is probably why Lowe and Chalmers (Koukash's man) were chosen, they are trusted, know the game backwards AND are 12,000,000 miles away, so not tied to the T&A and the other 'press'. Hence, no leaks.
I DO NOT know this is true, re Salford, Koukash moving to Bradford etc, but I do know that Koukash wants out of Salford and potentially into Manchester, to try to build the interest and crowds; although big crowds would not come immediately. That also fits with the needs/wants of Manchester City Council, Manchester City FC (apparently), the RFL and Manchester Rangers. (a very well run and growing amateur club.) Remember there was originally Broughton Rangers (a founding member) based in and around Salford.
Swinton have been reprieved by HMRC, for now at least, but don't have a pot to miss in. They have said they do not want to merge with Oldham. They may not have any choice. One needs a pot at least nowadays.
Again I do NOT know this is correct, but it seems, reading between the lines I have, that the suggestion above might actually be a viable possibility. Salford move to Odsal and change names. Bradford Red Devils (or similar), then a year later back to Bulls. Koukash keeps his beloved club, but has a potential 10K support, Manchester RLFC gets his support, with Rangers, Swinton and maybe Oldham merging, with a BIG bung from Koukash, the RFL and Manchester City Council. The RFL gets SL rugby back at the new HQ.
I have not posted before, as being watching from the sidelines and waiting for the league to 'finish'. I have been listening to snippets of info, from sources in the RFL and a couple of clubs in Lancashire, and thinking, maybe this is viable.
Discuss?
