Rugby league is a sport that has community at the very heart of the game with many local clubs being the hub of their community.
Salford Red Devils are now set to embrace that themselves as they bid to become the first elite rugby league club to become community owned.
They’ve launched their ‘Reds Rise Together’ scheme today which will be the kickstart and drive for the club to make the transition to become wholly and legally community owned.
The Red Devils announced the news via their website where Paul King, Managing Director, explained in further detail.
“This year we’re celebrating 150 years of a club at the heart of its community. Now we’re growing that community, as well as placing it at the heart of the club.
“The game has changed. IMG are in the business and with that comes a forward-thinking approach to how we move forward.
“For years, whenever we’ve been close to something, we have had to sell our best players. This year we opted to change that. Now by doing this, it allows to maintain a competitive playing squad and gives us a real chance to win the biggest prizes in the game.
“We have a fundamental belief that sport belongs to the people – not a sole person; and by doing this we’re creating the opportunity for such likeminded individuals to join us and do something really special.”
Individuals will now be able to buy shares in the club’s holding company with those shares coming with voting rights and also the eligibility to stand for election to their ‘community benefit society’ board.
It’s the first instance of this sort of scheme in the northern hemisphere and the side have outlined three key reasons why they’re taking this action, as outlined on their website.
“1) Maintain as competitive a playing squad as possible that compete at the highest level.
“2) To unite our growing community behind a common-cause.
“3) Fulfil IMG criteria ensuring Category A status within the top-flight of Super League through high level Commercial and Marketing growth.”
Further information about the transition towards becoming community owned can be found here.
