Salford Red Devils’ new owner has released a statement to fans on the eve of their next Super League game with Leeds Rhinos.
The Red Devils have featured heavily in news coverage over the past couple of weeks as the process of new ownership has taken a significant time to be processed by the RFL.
This has led to controversy over team selection for Paul Rowley and his players, along with a lack of communication with the RFL.
In a statement on their website, new owner Dario Berta has addressed the fans and given some confirmation of the ownership group and directors.
He said: “I am both honoured and excited to introduce myself as one of the new owners of this incredible club.
“I want to thank you, the loyal supporters who have stood by the club through every high and low.
“Your dedication is the heartbeat of this club, and I am committed to honouring that passion by building on the strong foundation that already exists.
“I’m aware the process took a little longer than everyone hoped but we got there in the end,” he added.
Salford have come into a lot of criticism over the last week, in particular about team selection, from everyone involved in the game but Berta is hoping fans stick by them through this transition.
He said: “The Salford Red Devils are more than just a team; they represent a proud community, rich history, and a passionate fanbase that is second to none.
“From the moment I first encountered the spirit of this club, I knew it was something truly special.
“Obviously, the deal is still fresh and there is a lot of work to be done in the background.
“Paul King and the team did a fantastic job under difficult circumstances, so we’d like to put on record our thanks to Paul, the CBS and everyone internally for their efforts.”
Berta and his fellow new owners want to elevate Salford to the next level, focusing on the playing squad as well as a range of matters off the pitch.
He continued: “Our vision as a consortium is to not only achieve success in the Betfred Super League and domestic competitions, but to also strengthen our ties within the community, invest in the club infrastructure, and create an environment where our fans, players, and staff feel proud to be part of the Red Devils family.
“Together, we will strive for success on and off the field, while staying true to the values that make Salford so unique.”
He also confirmed the new structure for the leadership team, including a chief executive and directors.
He said: “We are so delighted to have appointed Chris Irwin to run the club as Chief Executive, a true Salford man and he has already hit the ground running.
“Chris’ knowledge and experience within the sport is exactly what we as owners need to drive the future ambitions and success.
“Chris will run the club and we’ll announce a new board of directors in due course. We have ambitious plans and we’ll be sharing that vision with you all shortly.”
“My role here is to lead the consortium ownership group alongside my business partner Kurt Graver and Saia Kailahi and Curtis Brown from Jacobsen Management Group, who have helped us enormously with the acquisition as funding partners.”
Berta will not be in attendance for their match against Leeds but is eager to listen to fans on what they want from their club going forward.
He added: “I hope the performance of the Happy Mondays and more importantly the lads on the field make up for my absence.
“Thank you for welcoming me and the consortium onto this incredible journey. Â Your voice matters, and we are eager to listen, learn, and lead this club into a bright future.
“Let’s make the future of the Salford Red Devils something to be proud of—together,” he finished.
Salford will be hoping that with confirmation of new ownership and a complete playing squad, it will improve their chances against Leeds on Sunday.
