Salford Red Devils' financial saga: What has happened so far and what happens next?
Salford Red Devils started the season under a sustainability cap before a takeover was announced; the sustainability cap was reintroduced when the new ownership did not pay Salford staff; fixture against Wakefield Trinity was cancelled due to 'player welfare'
Wednesday 3 September 2025 12:00, UK
The saga surrounding Salford Red Devils' financial situation continues to rumble on but what has happened so far and where do we go from here? Let's take a look...
January: 'Sell players without delay': Sustainability cap introduced
It was revealed in January that Salford Red Devils had been placed under a £1.2m sustainability salary cap by the RFL and were ordered to start "selling players without delay".
This followed them being granted a £500,000 advance from the RFL's central distribution as agreed upon by other Super League clubs.
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The terms of receiving that money meant that Salford were placed under 'special measures' and would only be able to register players up to the £1.2m limit.
This meant they were unable to register a whole host of their first-team squad.
When explaining their finances, Salford said that local funding cuts, which included a promised subsidy from Salford City Council last March, ultimately never came through.
However, they reassured fans that the club were taking active steps to find new ownership and secure investment to ensure that they could pay back the £500,000 from the central distribution and have the salary cap lifted.
February: A deal on the eve of the season: takeover by consortium approved
After looking like they would head into the season clouded under financial uncertainty, a last-minute takeover appeared to have secured the club's future with a takeover confirmed, announcing a deal had been agreed with a consortium to buy 100 per cent of the club, which in turn would clear the club's debts.
The consortium was led by businessman Dario Berta, chief executive of investment bank Matanel, in a deal approved by the Community Benefit Society. The deal was subject to final approval by the RFL.
As a remnant of the RFL's imposition of the reduced sustainability cap, the club confirmed the takeover deal had not been completed in time to avoid a "selection restriction" for their opening Challenge Cup tie. However, they stated "this will be lifted ahead of the first fixture of the 2025 Betfred Super League season".
However, things were not as rosy as they seemed.
February: The 82-0 drubbing!
While Salford Red Devils believed their £1.2m sustainability cap would be lifted for their first Super League fixture it was not due to the takeover deal not yet being ratified by the RFL.
That led to them fielding 'predominantly reserve squad players' for their Super League opener against St Helens which resulted in an embarrassing 82-0 loss, with Saints' 15-try romp the biggest winning margin in Super League history.
The likes of Ryan Brierley, Esan Marsters and Nene Macdonald featured for Salford in the Challenge Cup but the club opted to not play them in the opening Super League fixture, leading to criticism, including from Leigh Leopards CEO Derek Beaumont.
"Complete disrespect from Salford Red Devils to the whole of Super League, its stakeholders and fans, it totally impacts the integrity of the comp!" he said.
Following the match, the RFL confirmed a compliance investigation would take place to determine whether Salford had broken operational rules.
February: Hope once again? Takeover approved
Five days after their humiliating loss to St Helens, the RFL approved the takeover of Salford Red Devils, clearing the way for them to field a full-strength side against Leeds Rhinos in their second Super League fixture.
An RFL statement said: "The RFL has today approved the Change of Control and all Owners and Directors Tests whilst also lifting the Sustainability Cap that has applied to Salford Red Devils since they were given an advance on their central distribution in December.
"The club's new ownership group have met the conditions that were necessary."
Although Salford lost 32-6 to the Rhinos, they were more hopeful for the future. That would quickly change.
February: Failure to pay: Salford staff left with financial uncertainty
When payday rolled around at the end of February, it was revealed by head coach Paul Rowley that players and staff at Salford had not been paid. That led to the salary cap restriction being reimposed.
With the unrest around not being paid, Salford players did not return to full training ahead of their fourth-round fixture against Castleford in protest at non-payment of wages.
A statement from the club said that the lack of payment was due to "the delay of funding following the takeover with funds currently pending regulatory clearance".
So, a weakened squad against Castleford? Not quite...
March: Changing the £1.2m!
Remarkably, Salford were granted dispensation to name an almost full-strength squad for their trip to Castleford despite being hit with another salary cap sanction.
Technically Salford were unable to bring in any more players who did not feature in the Challenge Cup game against Midlands Hurricanes, but the club convinced the RFL to allow them to replace a number of injured or suspended players with new ones.
That meant Salford called upon captain Kallum Watkins, Marc Sneyd and Chris Hill in place of the suspended Jayden Nikorima and Joe Shorrocks.
March: 'Stop the silence'
With so much up in the air after four rounds, Sky Sports Rugby League's Brian Carney and Jon Wilkin called for leaders to break their silence after the "rank" situation of Salford Red Devils' takeover.
"Lots has been written and spoken about the Salford situation this week. The players, we believe, were paid late last night, which was strange timing," Carney said.
"There's been, in my opinion, a distinct lack of communication from the leadership of this game. I haven't heard from any significant figure to explain to people what exactly is going on."
"I think there's silence because it's bad. Anybody could do it in the good times. You're describing a certain style of leadership," added Wilkin.
"I just think the full situation is rank. All of it's rank."
And it was only going to get worse.
March: Sneyd to Warrington: Salford start to sell star players
It was then announced that Sneyd would leave Salford Red Devils to join Warrington Wolves on an 18-month contract.
Sneyd leaving the club would see him removed from the club's sustainability cap, which would allow them to register some of the players in their squad who were not eligible to play as they did not fall under the current sustainability cap.
For their Challenge Cup fixture against Bradford Bulls, Salford only named a 17-player squad.
March: Wages late... again!
At the end of March, it was confirmed that players and staff at the club were not paid on time for the second month in a row.
Appearing to have run out of patience with their new owners, Salford said in a statement: "As many will already know, our payroll wasn't delivered this morning as scheduled, despite assurances.
"It remains a difficult situation for everyone at Salford Red Devils.
"Irrespective of this, we, as players and staff have continued to uphold our commitments with professionalism, ensuring the club remains competitive on and off the field.
"Now, we await the same level of commitment from those responsible for ensuring the stability of our organisation."
April: Brierley speaks out on 'deteriorating mental health' of players
With the ongoing situation, club captain Ryan Brierley was a guest on The Bench podcast in April to open up on how the situation had impacted the players.
Brierley discussed what effect payment issues had had on players and the deterioration of the squad available, as well as giving his opinion on the sustainability cap in place.
"Well, I mean, it's been an ordeal. It's been quite the ordeal," Brierley said.
"It's not been great, no, far from it.
"I think the pay situation hasn't been great. But I think over the last three or four years, Paul [Rowley - head coach] put a squad together where we can compete and challenge for trophies, especially top six and big games.
"Seeing your best friends being ripped apart and seeing their mental health deteriorate right in front of your eyes, it is awful."
May: CEO Irwin reportedly resigns
Fast forward to May 6 and it was reported by Salford that CEO Chris Irwin had resigned from the club.
The club statement read: "We can confirm Chris Irwin's departure as CEO from Salford Red Devils, after accepting his resignation.
"We thank him for his efforts. The journey continues - Reds Rise Together."
June: Players continue to leave!
Still stuck in what seems a perpetual state of limbo, players have continued to leave Salford, the latest being Sam Stone who took a loan deal to move to Warrington Wolves.
He joined Sneyd, Brad Singleton, Tim Lafai, Watkins, Deon Cross and Chris Atkin in departing the club, with Nene MacDonald on unpaid leave.
After their fixture on June 16 against St Helens, Rowley accused Stone of "downing tools" after being named in the initial squad but then reportedly refusing to play.
"Sam Stone did that. That's on him," Rowley told Sky Sports.
"He won't be training or playing anymore for us. We'll negotiate a deal with the club that he's been talking to.
"I get it on a lot of fronts. But there's a right way of doing things and a wrong way."
July: Senior Salford players threaten not to play
Rugby League bosses will meet with Salford Red Devils on July 16, amid threats of a player protest.
The decision comes just a week after Salford snapped their 13-game losing streak with a win over Castleford Tigers.
Senior players have threatened to refuse to play in the July 18 Super League game against Leeds Rhinos, amid ongoing financial troubles at the club.
Talks between the club and players will be held on July 16, with senior people from the RFL and RL Carers attending, with the aim of ensuring the fixture goes ahead.
That fixture did go ahead but it only delayed the inevitable.
August: Ryan Brierley and Jack Ormondroyd depart as RFL defends takeover
As the crisis deepened, the beleaguered Super League club sold club captain Ryan Brierley and prop Jack Ormondroyd to Oldham to raise funds to pay creditors.
"Making the decision to leave has broken my heart, but I know it's the right one for myself at this moment in time," Brierley said. "I find peace in the fact that the club will benefit, even if it is just for the short term."
The RFL then released a statement saying that Salford's financial woes are "damaging and draining for the sport" but insists that the "only alternative" to approving a takeover earlier this year was the "very probable and immediate demise of the club".
August: Rowley clinging on as 'players meet on the bus'
On Monday August 11, Salford Red Devils head coach Paul Rowley says he has to keep believing there is "light at the end of the tunnel" following his side's 80-6 loss to Hull FC.
Allowances were made for the club to be provided extra loan players from across the competition in order to fulfil the fixture which saw Hull FC run in 14 tries, Rowley admitting he had met some players on the bus to the game.
August: COO resigns and alleges she was told to 'sleep with individual' at RFL
On August 15, it was revealed that Salford Red Devils' chief operating officer Claire Bradbury has resigned and accused the club's ownership of suggesting "she sleep with an individual" at the RFL.
In a statement posted on LinkedIn, she said: "It is important to share something more personal, as a senior woman in business. Misogynistic, inappropriate language from the ownership suggesting I sleep with an individual at the RFL to 'smooth things over' is not acceptable.
"At the time I stayed quiet because I wanted the club to succeed. I'm disappointed in myself that I didn't stand up to it then so I'm voicing it now as it should be heard for the integrity and evolution of rugby league and for all women who work in sport."
Salford responded by saying that they condemn any misogynistic language and would conduct a thorough internal investigation into the matter and release a report.
August: Match against Wakefield cancelled but protest goes ahead
Salford cancelled their Super League fixture against Wakefield Trinity due to a shortage of available players.
The club said in a statement released on Friday evening that they had made the decision amid "significant concerns regarding player welfare", with only two senior players available for the home fixture along with 15 academy products.
The RFL will meet to determine the outcome of the fixture.
Fan group 'The 1873' were set to protest at the game and despite it being cancelled still went ahead with their march to The Salford Community Stadium.
In a statement, they said: "We promised fans their voices would be heard and... they were - and we promise they will continue to be heard.
"Let's be clear: This is not a one-off. This is just the beginning.
"If the owners thought the fans would simply lie down and accept watching our club being ripped apart, they were very wrong."
August: Salford pull off shock win
In a moment of relief for Salford, fans, they managed to pull off a shock 25-12 win away at Warrington Wolves.
Crisis-riddled Salford defied uncertainty over their existence to claim the victory, despite the club facing a winding-up hearing on September 3. Their cobbled-together starting 13 featured seven loan players.
"It was a day to show what Salford offers as a club. This club has a lot of soul, a lot of spirit, a lot of pride," Rowley said.
"It's a story of the underdog - always fighting, never give up. We've got everything apart from a load of money in our pockets.
"I'm very proud of the very fabric and very tapestry of Salford Red Devils. Today was a very good day."
September: Haggerty leaves the club
On September 1, Salford Red Devils assistant coach Kurt Haggerty became the latest departure despite being expected to take over as Salford head coach next season, with current boss Rowley intending to move into a director of rugby role.
Haggerty said: "I wish nothing but the best for everybody involved at the Red Devils and hope the current situation is resolved and the club finally has a future of stability.
"The public nature of the situation and uncertainty of my future as the head coach of the club moving forward has become incredibly unbearable for me and my family. This ultimately led to my decision to leave the club."
September: HMRC give club further adjournment in case
On September 3, Salford were granted a further adjournment to their HMRC winding-up petition.
The case, which was originally scheduled in June, was then set to be heard on Wednesday over unpaid bills over £700,000, with the possibilities of the club being wound-up or placed into administration.
However, the court granted the club a further opportunity to secure the finances required to stay alive and see out the 2025 Super League season.
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