Quick Read
- Salford Red Devils were liquidated by the High Court on December 3, 2025 after failing to pay debts totalling around £4 million.
- The club’s 152-year history ends following multiple adjourned hearings and unsuccessful rescue attempts.
- Salford was relegated from the Super League for 2026, losing its place after a season marked by financial and managerial turmoil.
- Fan groups and local officials are seeking to establish a new ‘phoenix club’ to continue Salford’s rugby league legacy.
Historic Salford Red Devils Liquidated After Prolonged Financial Struggles
In a one-minute hearing at the specialist companies court on December 3, 2025, the Salford Red Devils — one of rugby league’s most storied clubs — were officially wound up. This abrupt end comes after 152 years of sporting history, marking a painful turning point for the city of Salford and its passionate rugby community (BBC Sport, Sky Sports).
Debt, Court Hearings, and a Year of Crisis
The catalyst for this dramatic conclusion was a winding-up petition brought by His Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC) against Salford City Reds (2013) Limited, the operating company for the club. The club’s debts are believed to be around £4 million. The petition was first filed in June 2025 and adjourned four times throughout the year, as club officials scrambled to secure bridging loans and outside investment. Each adjournment offered a brief window for hope, but no funds materialized, and with the final hearing, the club was ordered into liquidation (Independent, Yahoo News).
Salford Red Devils’ financial woes were not sudden. The cracks began to show after their impressive fourth-place Super League finish in 2024. By early 2025, the club had requested advances on their distribution payments and completed a takeover led by Swiss businessman Dario Berta. However, the anticipated financial rescue never arrived, and the club found itself operating under a strict sustainability cap imposed by the Rugby Football League (RFL). This forced Salford to field a youthful team and led to a humiliating 82-0 defeat at St Helens on opening day.
Throughout the year, the club was plagued by late wage payments, mass player departures, and managerial instability. High-profile players like Marc Sneyd, Nene Macdonald, and Ryan Brierley exited, leaving the team depleted and vulnerable to heavy losses. Off the pitch, Chief Executive Chris Irwin and Chief Operating Officer Claire Bradbury both resigned amid internal turmoil and allegations of improper conduct. Salford City Council withdrew from negotiations to buy the Community Stadium, further destabilizing the club’s foundation.
Relegation, Fan Protest, and the Collapse of Trust
As financial pressure mounted, the Red Devils’ Super League future grew increasingly uncertain. The team was relegated from the top flight for the 2026 season after finishing outside the top 12 in the IMG gradings. Head coach Paul Rowley departed for St Helens, and the incoming coach, Kurt Haggerty, left to join Bradford Bulls — the team replacing Salford in next season’s Super League.
By August, the situation reached a crisis point. Salford had just two senior players available, prompting the cancellation of their fixture against Wakefield due to “significant” welfare concerns. Fan protests erupted, and supporter group The 1873 issued a somber statement: “Let us be honest with ourselves. This outcome has been coming. It is long overdue. It is what the club needs to survive. For months, we have watched uncertainty grow around unpaid debts, unclear leadership, and crumbling trust.”
The club’s last social media post, announcing Joe Mellor’s departure to Bradford, was a quiet echo of a team unraveling. Even as the fixture list for the 2026 Championship was published, doubts loomed about whether Salford could fulfill their commitments.
Liquidation: What Comes Next for Rugby League in Salford?
The High Court’s decision terminated Salford Red Devils’ membership of the RFL with immediate effect. The RFL announced a meeting to determine the process for new club ownership and next steps for rugby league in the city (All Out Rugby League).
For creditors, liquidation means their debts will be written off, but the club’s limited assets offer little hope of recovery. For supporters, the future is less certain but potentially brighter. Across sports, ‘phoenix clubs’ have emerged from the ashes of liquidation — the Bradford Bulls’ revival in 2017 stands as a recent example in rugby league.
Local officials, including Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham and Salford Mayor Paul Dennett, have met with the RFL to advocate for a new community-rooted club to enter the Championship next season. Businesses and fans are reportedly eager to resurrect the Red Devils’ proud name and legacy, and the city’s connection to rugby — as the birthplace of William Webb Ellis — remains strong.
As of December, Salford remains listed in the Championship fixture schedule, set to host Oldham on January 16, 2026. Whether a new entity can be established in time is the pressing question, but the appetite for rugby league in Salford endures.
A Legacy Ended, A Community Unbowed
Salford Red Devils’ liquidation marks the end of a chapter in British rugby league history. The club’s 152-year run saw triumphs, heartbreaks, and a passionate fanbase that has weathered every storm. While the failed takeover and mounting debts led to a rapid unravelling, the resolve of Salford’s supporters and local leaders suggests the story may not be entirely over.
As the city reckons with the loss, conversations about a ‘phoenix club’ grow louder. The lessons from this painful episode — the importance of sound financial management, transparent leadership, and community engagement — will shape whatever comes next for rugby league in Salford.
The Salford Red Devils’ demise offers a sobering reminder of how quickly sporting institutions can unravel under financial mismanagement and fractured leadership. Yet, in the aftermath, the unwavering support from fans and city officials signals that, while the club’s old form is gone, its spirit may yet find new life. The challenge now is to build a sustainable, community-driven future that honors Salford’s proud rugby heritage and avoids repeating the mistakes of the past.