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Rugby League

Salford "delighted" at Super League return

22/07/2008

The Salford City Reds have said they are "delighted" to have been awarded one of the 14 Super League licences for the 2009 season.

The Greater Manchester outfit, who were one of the original breakaway clubs that formed the Northern Rugby Football Union in 1895, will return to the top flight next season after a one-year absence due to their relegation in 2007.

In awarding the licence to Salford, the Rugby Football League (RFL) took into account the club's historic significance as well as its future plans to move to a new stadium.

However, in a statement the club said they had fully expected to be selected as one of the teams currently outside Super League to be granted admission for next year.

"Salford City Reds are delighted to be back in engage Super League," the statement reads.

"The club had every confidence in its licence application which was a comprehensive review of all aspects of club operations.

"The granting of a licence based on those documents is testimony that the game's governing body approves of the professional manner in which Salford City Reds currently operates on and off the field.

"We would like to take the opportunity to thank the executive directors at the RFL for their decision which secures the future ambitions of Salford City Reds for the 2009 season and beyond."

Among the clubs to retain their Super League status were Bradford Bulls, although the RFL's report pointed out the need to improve their current home ground, the Grattan Stadium.

In celebrating their unsurprising award of a licence, Bradford have now set their sights on improving their facilities with a view to maintaining their place when the next licence applications are due in three years' time.

Last week, chairman Peter Hood admitted to inthenews.co.uk that Odsal is "not fit for purpose in the 21st century".

And following today's confirmation that they will contest Super League between 2009 and 2011, Hood said the proposed sporting village improvements to the stadium would be "essential" for the club to progress.

"From the outset we gave the licence application process the respect it deserved, taking nothing for granted and certainly not resting on our laurels," he said.

"Now that our immediate future is secure the off-field focus shifts to 2011.

"In less than three years’ time the application process begins again, by which time it is essential that there is a workable solution in place to bring the Grattan Stadium, Odsal into the 21st century."