St Helens boss Paul Rowley has say on Salford Red Devils’ future as pressure of new job noted

St Helens’ new head coach Paul Rowley has spoken about the major shift in circumstances after joining from Salford Red Devils, who he’s argued will ‘still be battling’ whatever the result of the club’s financial crisis is.

That financial crisis marred Rowley’s last season in charge at the Red Devils and it’s put a club that is over 150 years old in danger of going bust, with a HMRC hearing scheduled for October 28th crucial in Salford’s survival.

We already know Salford have been relegated from Super League but whether they will exist to play in the Championship is another matter with CEO Paul King recently stating that the club are in danger of not being able to field a team for 2026 if things don’t clear up soon.

Speaking to ITV News about his new role, Rowley looked back on his old one and the situation he left behind, offering words of hope for his former club.

The 50-year-old explained: “It’s obviously sad because as a club Salford saw last season as a season to win something but Salford is a resilient community and the club reflects the town.

“I’m not sure how it will end up but I’ve got the utmost confidence that it will still be there, still be battling and showing all the same qualities that its done for decades.”

Paul Rowley talks the ‘pressures’ of St Helens role

Even if Salford weren’t in such financial crisis, the jump from a club of their stature and set-up to one like St Helens was always going to be a culture change and that’s something Rowley noted, taking on an elite club as opposed to fighting to build and establish something as he was tasked to do at Leigh, Toronto and Salford.

He admitted: “I’m coming into something very different. I usually build from the bottom but this thing is already there and has the blueprint of success over many decades.

“I understand the pressures that come with the job. I’m 50-years-old and have been around this game for quite some time and I think I’ve notched up over 700 (games) as a player and coach, so I’d like to think I’ve seen most things in the game.

“Nevertheless, it is a shirt that will weigh heavy and the pressure is heavy, and you’ve got to cope with it.”

As for what he’ll bring, he’s promised the same attacking flair that has characterised Salford over the years but admitted that the main pressure and focus is the hunt for silverware.

The Saints boss said: “The history and heritage (of St Helens) is the entertainers so I’d be lying if I said I didn’t want to entertain. I certainly want to bring that flavour to St Helens and that’s really important to me.

“This town want, deserve and expect silverware and that’s the pressure that we’ve spoke about.

“I’m looking forward to the atmosphere. I know how fantastic the Saints fans are, this is what people live and die for in St Helens so I’m going to share that passion. What it means for them, it means for me as well.”

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