Paul Rowley has moved to explain his decision to step away from his role as Salford Red Devils head coach. Rowley will become the club’s new director of rugby in 2026 with the next Super League season being his last as head coach of the club.
It comes as a part of a staff shake up that will see Paul King take the CEO role, with Clair Butters being appointed as the club’s new COO.
Salford will announce who will take over as head coach in 2026 in the coming days, with Rowley having a say on his successor. However, the change means the 49-year-old, who represented England on four occasions as a player, will move upstairs after four seasons in the Red Devils coaching hot seat.
“The Grand Final is over now. It’s been a great year; I’ve totally enjoyed it and I’m hoping to see you all next year as well,” he told Salford Red Devils’ club media.
“With that in mind, I just want to re-emphasise and reiterate the fact that I’m not going anywhere. I’m certainly committed to being at Salford, first and foremost as a coach in 2025.
“I absolutely love it here. I’m committed to this place, and I want to be here for 2025 and beyond. That’s what I will be doing. I won’t be going anywhere.
“I want to be part of the growth of the club. There’s a lot happening on and off the field and I want to be a part of that.
“As the club grows and the business grows, at some point at the end of next year I’ll look towards stepping upstairs into some form of football director role. So, onto the staff, if you’d like. And that will be a long-term appointment, so to connect all the facets of the business, facilitate the football department and maintain some fingerprints on the football department as well.
“I’ve put a lot of people in place that have got long-term futures now at the club, good people – and there’s got to be succession. I’ve always said I want to appoint my successor and that’s what I’ve done at every club I’ve been at. This is no different.
“I’m looking forward first and foremost to next year and you guys jumping on board and carrying on that journey with me and the team and then beyond that, like I said before, connecting all the facets of an ever-growing group in what is a really exciting future going forward!”
