Ryan Brierley admits he lost his love for playing after leaving Salford Red Devils back in August.
Brierley has returned to Salford as a CEO, taking on the phoenix club and attempting to lead their revival after seeing his beloved club, the club he supported as a boy and went on to captain, liquidated in December.
In order to take the role, the 33-year-old has hung up his playing boots and retired, leaving Championship side Oldham two years before his contract at the club was due to expire. It was a decision that brought an end to a 14-year career as a professional, but it was one that felt right for the former full-back.
That’s because Brierley lost his enthusiasm and zest to continue playing the sport after having to leave Salford to try and help the club survive. It was a traumatic and challenging experience for the former Leigh, Hull KR and Huddersfield Giants man, but he was never going to pass up on the opportunity to help the club start over.
“It was a real natural progression,” Brierley told Serious About Rugby League. “I felt personally that I’d lost a bit of purpose in my life and career when I left Salford, it was the one thing that was exciting for me in regards to a playing capacity.
“I felt a little bit numb. I really tried to find my love again at Oldham but I couldn’t really do that and I thought now was the right time. I’d lost my love for playing if I’m honest.
“Since I left Salford, I was so hurt and so mentally broken with what happened, I just thought if there’s any chance of saving them and having a purpose again for my family and friends, I just couldn’t let them down. When someone asks you to help save Salford, as a Salford boy you definitely don’t say no.”
On the role itself, Brierley added: “I’m actually really enjoying it, I’ve never been as busy in my life in regards to setting a club up from scratch but I’m really enjoying. There’s a lot of tough challenges to come but I’m loving every minute of it.
“I think it’s a natural progression for me, I’m 33 years old now and I didn’t really want to finish my career in the Championship, I wanted to finish it at Salford and I feel like I have kind of done that with coming back and I’m comfortable with where I’m at with that. ”
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James
January 2, 2026 at 10:48 pm
‘I’d lost my love’ …. Hadn’t we all Ryan, but how many of us will get it back?
So far, I haven’t!
Anonymous
January 3, 2026 at 1:47 pm
James, all Salford fans and supporters are pretty much in the same boat and rather than going to the games and expecting to win at all times, the best any of us can do is let’s wait and see. I certainly do not think our new owners can be as bad as the scumballs that we had to put up with last season.
And when I say we I also mean all the legitimate people who worked at the club and all the players and staff whose lives were so badly affected. At least these new owners are saying the right thinks and seem to have the best interest of the club staff, players and supporters best interests at heart. So all we can do is hope for the best which is a lot better than how we felt at the beginning of last season.
Johnny
January 5, 2026 at 7:46 pm
Willy peters started the rot with Ryan likewise with several players useing them
Plus useing skd wardy