The High Court has ordered the liquidation of Salford Red Devils, ending the 152-year existence of one of rugby league's historic clubs. The winding-up order was issued Wednesday morning at the Insolvency and Companies Court in London, following four adjournments since June and debts totaling around £4m, including approximately £700,000 in unpaid taxes owed to His Majesty's Revenue and Customs.
The liquidation caps a catastrophic year for the club. After finishing fourth in Super League in 2024, Salford plummeted to the bottom of the table this season with just three wins. A consortium led by Swiss businessman Dario Berta completed a takeover in February, but the club descended into chaos. Players repeatedly received wages late, prompting a mass exodus including key figures Marc Sneyd, Nene Macdonald and Ryan Brierley. The club suffered a record 82-0 defeat at St Helens.
Off-field turmoil matched the on-pitch collapse. Chief executive Chris Irwin resigned less than three months into the role. Chief operating officer Claire Bradbury quit after an alleged inappropriate suggestion from club ownership. Head coach Paul Rowley departed for St Helens after Salford lost its Super League status for 2026 due to IMG grading criteria. Kurt Haggerty, who replaced him, left late in the season to join Bradford Bulls. The Rugby Football League imposed a sustainability cap that further weakened team selection.
Fans call outcome "long overdue"
Supporter group The 1873 issued a stark statement acknowledging the liquidation's inevitability. «Let us be honest with ourselves. This outcome has been coming. It is long overdue,» the fan group stated. «It is what the club needs to survive.»
The group described months of deteriorating conditions. «For months, we have watched uncertainty grow around unpaid debts, unclear leadership, and crumbling trust between ownership and supporters,» The 1873 said. «The writing was on the wall and today – it was finally read aloud in court.» The statement concluded: «It is, without question, a dark day.»
The club's own statement expressed understanding «of the gravity of this situation and the uncertainty this creates for everyone connected with the club.» Staff members faced an emotional reckoning. «For the original club staff that remained up until this point, this is an incredibly emotional moment. Whilst there is sadness in seeing things come to this point, there is also a sense of relief that an extremely challenging period for the club has finally come to an end,» the statement read.
Phoenix club prospects uncertain
The Rugby Football League has terminated Salford's membership and scheduled a Thursday meeting to advise on the process for new club ownership. Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham and Salford mayor Paul Dennett met with the RFL in October to discuss the possibility of a phoenix club entering the second-tier Championship.
Salford appeared in Tuesday's Championship fixture list reveal, scheduled to host local rivals Oldham on January 16. That fixture now hangs in balance. Bradford Bulls provide a precedent for resurrection after their own liquidation and return in 2017.
The club thanked supporters in its statement: «We want to express our heartfelt thanks to all the fans who have stood by us through everything. Your passion and loyalty have meant the world to us. More than anything, we hope that the club's proud name and history can live on and continue to represent the people of Salford.»
Bradford Bulls will replace Salford in Super League next season. Creditors face minimal recovery prospects, with few assets available for receivers or liquidators to sell from the council-owned Salford Community Stadium, shared with rugby union club Sale Sharks.
Note: This article was created with Artificial Intelligence (AI).
