RFL CEO defends their management of Salford Red Devils saga

CEO of the Rugby Football League, Tony Sutton, has defended the governing body’s management of the Salford Red Devils saga.

Salford’s financial issues have been ongoing for months now with the club first requesting an advance on their central funding from the RFL in late 2024, however, failure to rectify their financial issues has seen them under a limited salary cap for the majority of the 2025 season.

That has obviously impacted results and also seen huge uncertainty over the future of Salford Red Devils, something that Tony Sutton spoke on when speaking to Sky Sports.

Asked if he could foresee Salford playing in Super League in 2026, Sutton explained that he ‘hoped to’ as opposed to giving a straight verdict of either yes or no.

Salford Red Devils CEO gives verdict on new owners

He also explained that whilst the RFL would review what has happened, they had “played the ball that’s in front” of them whilst also explaining what processes the new Salford Red Devils’ owners went through.

Here’s every word that Tony Sutton had to say on Salford Red Devils

RFL CEO gives Salford Red Devils verdict

Jenna Brooks: Could you foresee this situation and is this the worst case scenario?

Tony Sutton: “If we go back to November or early December, we’d probably looked around a few corners to try and see, as you say, some scenario plans and things going forward.

“In terms of the financial sustainability, the future sustainability of the club for players and staff and fans and spectators and supporters, we would probably have anticipated some earlier action, shall we say, but what we’re starting to see now is we’ve seen some relatively high-profile player movement, which is really to some degree about cost management.

“We’ve seen some of those actions to be taken and we’re supportive of that and as I say in conversation regularly with people like Chris Irwin who is working through some of the actions that we would have talked about and scenario planned going all the way back to November.”

JB: How do you think the RFL have handled the situation?

TS: “I think we’ve played the ball that’s in front of us to use a sporting analogy. I think we should always and are always open to look back and review what we’ve done, think about and assess whether or not we could or should have done different things and we will do so. We do that with many situations and scenarios.”

JB: Have the RFL been vocal enough?

TS: “We could always look back and see whether or not we would have done things differently but also I think there was a strong voice there for the club and the ownership both at the time and now to come forward and tell its part as well. We’re very aware of our role as a governing body and what the role that clubs should and do take and who sits where in that position.

JB: What does a fit and proper test of the ownership involve?

TS: “Previously with owners that we might not have known before in other transactions who may be from, say, coming from a different league or from a different Federation we’ll do a detailed amount of background due diligence and we might use some independent firms or some independent partners to help us with that for example.

“We will do a level of due diligence, we’ll look for financial information for example, we’ll also look for company information and we will do some very relatively straightforward internet searches to see what’s out there. If that brings up things, we’ll move forward in certain work streams or check out certain things or not and we go to the level that we think is required, transaction or club by club if you like.”

JB: Do you think Salford will be in the top flight next year?

TS: “I really hope so. I really hope so. As I say, the protection and support that we’ve looked to provide to the club to allow them to be able to take some positive decisions, we absolutely hope so.”

“We’re in conversations regularly” 🗣️

Rugby League chief executive Tony Sutton on the plans ahead for Salford Red Devils. pic.twitter.com/qVaRa5xTQB

— Sky Sports Rugby League (@SkySportsRL) April 10, 2025