Salford Red Devils decision made with salary cap restriction enforced

The RFL Special Measures Committee met today to discuss Salford Red Devils and a verdict has now been confirmed.

It has been confirmed that the £1.2 million salary cap restctrion will be imposed immediately with the club asked to update the RFL in a meeting on Wedeneday morning about the lack of player payments.

It had been previously announced by the RFL last Friday evening that they would hold a meeting to discuss Salford with that statement coming in the aftermath of reports that the Red Devils’ players had not been paid for the month of February.

Those reports emerged on Thursday night shortly after Hull KR defeated Salford 42-0 in what was a sorry performance that saw head coach Paul Rowley accuse his players of showing a ‘victim mentality’.

Rowley then fronted the Sky Sports cameras on Friday night and confirmed that the players had not been paid but said he expected payment early the following week, revealing that because the money has come from overseas it requires extra fraud checks.

Previously, Salford Red Devils announced they had been taken over by a consortium led by Swiss banker Dario Berta and the RFL lifted the £1.2 million salary cap restriction, allowing Rowley to select from his full team.

Today’s meeting was to consider whether special measures, which currently apply to Salford, should be extended to the reinstatement of a Club Financial Sustainability Cap.

RFL release statement following Salford Red Devils’ special measures meeting

After today’s meeting, the RFL have released a statement.

It read: “The RFL Special Measures Committee have determined at their meeting earlier today that in addition to the existing restrictions on player movements in and out of Salford Red Devils that were already in place, the Sustainability Cap of £1.2m that was imposed on the club in February, and lifted ahead of their Betfred Super League Round Two fixture, will be reimposed immediately.

“In addition, Salford Red Devils have been asked to update and explain to the RFL’s Special Measures Committee and representatives from Rugby League Commercial at a meeting on Wednesday morning the current position regarding non-payment of staff, and how this will be rectified as well as a wider update on the club’s financial sustainability.”

Salford must now cut their playing budget considerably in order to dip below £1.2 million, with the Red Devils previously naming a squad below that £1.2 cap. When facing Midlands Hurricanes in the Challenge Cup the likes of Marc Sneyd, Tim Lafai and Kallum Watkins missed out whilst those such as Nene Macdonald and Jayden Nikorima played.

It has now been confirmed to Serious About Rugby League by the RFL that going forward Salford must operate with the same squad named to face Midlands Hurricanes meaning the likes of Sneyd, Lafai and Watkins will all miss out.