Salford Red Devils: Troubled ex-Super League club wound up by High Court

The court’s decision opens the curtain on a year to forget for Salford; Salford’s luck last season stands in stark contrast to their successful 2024 campaign, which saw them finish fourth in the Super League and reach the end-of-season play-offs.

But at the end of last season, financial troubles started to bite.

The club requested an advance on 2025 distribution payments well before the start of the season, and on the eve of this year’s campaign, the takeover was completed from a consortium led by Swiss businessman Dario Berta.

However, despite this takeover, things gradually deteriorated and financial problems continued to plague the club throughout the year.

A sustainability limit was imposed on Salford by the Rugby Football League, which affected team selection and led to the Red Devils fielding a young side for their record-breaking 82-0 season-opening defeat at St Helens.

Team selection and player shortages hampered Salford all season; Numerous departures, including high-profile players such as Marc Sneyd, Nene Macdonald and Ryan Brierley, left a depleted squad after a succession of heavy defeats.

Their Super League match against Wakefield in August was canceled due to “significant” welfare concerns with only two of the club’s senior players available, prompting a protest from fans.

Off the field, things were equally chaotic; Chief executive Chris Irwin resigned from his position in less than three months and Salford City Council pulled out of negotiations over the club’s attempt to purchase the Salford Community Stadium home in May.

Meanwhile, chief operating officer Claire Bradbury has left her post after claiming the club’s ownership suggested she “sleep with someone from the Rugby Football League” to ease their situation.

Shortly after the hearing was adjourned in October, the club’s owners claimed they had received the funding which was due “within 12 days” but this ultimately did not happen.