Former Salford Red Devils CEO returns amid impending breaking point

There has been yet another change at the top for Salford Red Devils who are teetering on the edge of a complete financial collapse.

It has been four months since the club announced that they had been taken over by a consortium led by Swiss banker Dario Berta, however, their problems have not disappeared.

That initial statement revealed that all debts had been cleared but in truth, the club’s debts continue to rise with money owed to lenders, the RFL and HMRC with Salford on the brink of financial collapse.

Wages have been paid late on two occasions and the man brought in as CEO ‘resigned’ last week in another key change. Chris Irwin had been one of the only men to front up to questions and does deserve immense praise and respect, having clearly been sold a dream that simply didn’t exist.

It’s now been confirmed by BBC Sport Manchester that the man he replaced at Salford, Paul King, is back with the Red Devils in an “advisory role”.

Paul King returns to Salford Red Devils

It marks yet more change at the club but the only change that fans, players, staff, and rugby league fans on the whole is a change in financial circumstances. If that change doesn’t come then the future looks very bleak for the Red Devils.

Per BBC Sport Manchester, King has paid the player wages for the past three months whilst it was previously confirmed that he had put his own house up as leverage against the loans.

As such, King, who is a huge fan of the club as well as someone who held the role of CEO, needs the financial security at Salford more than most.

It’s still unclear what will happen next. The club are now under their £1.2 million salary cap having sold a number of players but the stadium deal is still unfinished and hangs over them.

Paul Rowley previously noted that he was not naive enough to think it’s the same as “buying a garden shed”, accepting it will take time but as the debts rise, time may not be on the club’s side.

After Magic Weekend, they have slipped to the foot of Super League but their next game sees them take on Castleford Tigers, who they could draw level on points with with a win.

Former CEO Paul King is back at Salford Red Devils in an advisory role.

It’s understood King paid the player wages for the past three months.

👹 The Devils are still waiting on significant funds from their new owners.

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— BBC Sport Manchester (@BBCRMsport) May 11, 2025